Methods of determining performance information for individuals and sports objects

ABSTRACT

Methods for determining performance information for an object located within an area include obtaining magnetic field information for the area, measuring first magnetic field data when the object is located at a first position within the area, and determining performance information for the object within the area based on the magnetic field information for the area and the first magnetic field data.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The present application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/797,361 filed on Mar. 12, 2013, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to methods ofdetermining performance information for an object based on magneticfield information. More particularly, embodiments of the presentinvention relate to methods of determining performance information foran object, such as the position or speed of the object, by mappingmagnetic field information of an area and comparing magnetic fieldmeasurements taken as the object moves about the area to the mappedmagnetic field information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technologies such as satellite navigation systems are useful fornavigation and tracking movement of an object in an outdoor environment.However, these systems do not function well in areas without a clearpathway between the satellite and receiver, such as indoor, urban,subterranean and underwater environments, where satellite navigationsystem signals are often unavailable. Thus, it would be advantageous tohave a positioning system that works in both outdoor and indoorenvironments that can be used in place of or in combination with asatellite navigation system.

Embodiments of the present invention determine performance informationfor an object based on local magnetic field data. The earth's magneticfield across a wide area is generally the same, with little variation.Thus, in most instances, a standard compass will generally point to theearth's magnetic pole. However, on a local level, the earth's magneticfield, although generally stable, may be non-uniform. Both the intensityand direction of the earth's magnetic field can vary locally. Ofparticular relevance, within a man-made structure such as a building,variations in the magnetic field can be influenced, for instance, by thebuilding materials. For example, the magnetic field measured near alarge steel support beam may be different than the magnetic fieldmeasured in the center of a large room. Accordingly, the intensity anddirection of the magnetic field can vary when measured at variouslocations throughout a building.

By measuring and recording local magnetic field data, a magnetic field“map” of an area can be created that includes magnetic field informationfor the entire area. Measurements taken at a point later in time can becompared with the magnetic field map information to determine a locationof an object within the mapped area. This can be useful for numerousactivities, for example, navigating through a building or tracking themovement of an object within an enclosed structure. More specifically,certain athletic activities are commonly performed inside gyms, trainingfacilities, arenas or stadiums that are partially or completelyenclosed. For example, sports such as basketball, football and soccerare often played indoors. It is becoming increasingly important to trackperformance metrics of athletes during both training and competition.Satellite navigation system-based technology, although potentiallyuseful in outdoor environments to track the position, movement andperformance of players or sports equipment (e.g., a ball), oftenencounters accuracy problems in indoor environments. Thus, it would beadvantageous to have a positioning system that is capable of trackingthe position, movement and performance of players or sports equipment inindoor environments based on local magnetic field data.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The methods and systems disclosed herein relate to detecting,determining and tracking the position of one or more objects within anarea based on local magnetic field data. The methods and systems aregenerally described herein with respect to indoor environments that arepartially or completely enclosed, but are equally suitable for otherenvironments, for example, outdoor, urban, subterranean and underwaterenvironments. The methods and systems are also generally describedherein with respect to athletic activities, but can be employed for manyother uses, such as, but not limited to, indoor and outdoor navigationand product tracking. Although the methods and systems disclosed hereinare generally described using magnetic field data, other types of datato determine and track the position of individuals and objects within anarea are also contemplated. Examples of other types of data include, butare not limited to, thermal (IR) and/or visible spectrum data, opticaldata, image data and/or electromagnetic data.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for determiningperformance information for an object located within an area, the methodincluding obtaining magnetic field information for the area, measuringfirst magnetic field data when the object is located at a first positionwithin the area, wherein the first magnetic field data includes magneticfield intensity data and/or magnetic field direction data, anddetermining performance information for the object within the area basedon the magnetic field information for the area and the first magneticfield data.

Embodiments of the present invention also relate to a method fordetermining performance information for an object located within anathletic field area, the method including obtaining magnetic field mapdata for the athletic field area, measuring magnetic field data when theobject is located within the athletic field area, filtering the measuredmagnetic field data, and determining performance information for theobject within the athletic field area based on the magnetic field mapdata and the filtered measured magnetic field data.

Embodiments of the present invention further relate to a method fordetermining a position of an object within an area at a given time, themethod including obtaining magnetic field information for the area,measuring first magnetic field data when the object is located at afirst position within the area, comparing the first magnetic field datawith the magnetic field information for the area, determining a set ofpossible locations of the first position of the object within the areabased on the comparison of the first magnetic field data with themagnetic field information for the area, measuring second magnetic fielddata when the object is located at a second position within the area,comparing the second magnetic field data with the magnetic fieldinformation for the area, applying constraints to the second magneticfield data to determine a possible location of the second position ofthe object based on the constraints and the comparison of the firstmagnetic field data and the second magnetic field data with the magneticfield information for the area, and repeating the steps of measuringmagnetic field data and applying constraints to determine the positionof the object within the area at a given time.

Embodiments of the present invention also relate to a method fordetermining performance information for an object located within anarea, the method including measuring first magnetic field data when theobject is located at a first position within the area at a first time,determining a location of the first position of the object at the firsttime based on the first magnetic field data, measuring second magneticfield data when the object is located at a second position within thearea at a second time, determining a location of the second position ofthe object at the second time based on the second magnetic field data,and determining performance information for the object based on thelocation of the first position of the object at the first time and thelocation of the second position of the object at the second time.

Embodiments of the present invention further relate to a method fortracking a first object and a second object as they move about an areaduring a period of time, the method including obtaining magnetic fielddata for the first object as it moves about the area during the periodof time, obtaining magnetic field data for the second object as it movesabout the area during the period of time, and tracking positions of thefirst object and the second object at given times as they move about thearea during the period of time based on the obtained magnetic field datafor the first object and the obtaining magnetic field data for thesecond object.

Embodiments of the present invention also relate to a method for mappinga magnetic field of an athletic field area, the method includingmeasuring magnetic field data at a plurality of locations within theathletic field area during a mapping session and generating a map of themagnetic field of the athletic field area based on the measured magneticfield data.

Embodiments of the present invention further relate to a method fordetermining performance information for an object located within anarea, the method including obtaining magnetic field information for thearea, performing a statistical analysis of the variability of themagnetic field information for the area, measuring a statisticalvariable of magnetic field data as the object moves within the area, anddetermining performance information for the object based on themeasurement of the statistical variable of magnetic field data.

Embodiments of the present invention also relate to a group monitoringdevice for monitoring a plurality of individuals engaged in an athleticactivity, the device including a display configured to display, duringan athletic activity, a representation depicting locations on a playingfield of a plurality of individuals engaged in the athletic activity,and a location of a movable sports object (e.g., a ball), wherein therepresentation is based on location information generated by individualmonitors coupled to individuals of the plurality of individuals, andlocation information generated by an object monitor coupled to thesports object.

Embodiments of the present invention further relate to a method formonitoring a plurality of individuals engaged in an athletic activity,the method including displaying, during the athletic activity, arepresentation depicting locations on a playing field of a plurality ofindividuals engaged in the athletic activity, and a location of amovable sports object, wherein the representation is based on locationinformation generated by individual monitors coupled to individuals ofthe plurality of individuals, and location information generated by anobject monitor coupled to the sports object.

Embodiments of the present invention also relate to a method fordefining a playing field, the method including displaying, using anadministrative device, an instruction to locate a sensor at a firstlocation, receiving first data from the sensor, defining the first dataas the position of the first location, displaying, using theadministrative device, an instruction to locate the sensor at a secondlocation, receiving second data from the sensor, and defining the seconddata as the position of the second location, wherein the position of thefirst location and the position of the second location together definethe playing field.

Additional embodiments, features, and advantages of the presentinvention, as well as the structure and operation of the variousembodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a partof the specification, illustrate the present invention by way ofexample, and not by way of limitation, and, together with thedescription, further serve to explain the principles of the inventionand to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use theinvention.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an individual using an athletic activitymonitoring system, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an individual using an athletic activitymonitoring system, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of various different pieces of athleticequipment, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of components of a sensor module, according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of components of a sensor module, according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is an illustration of a sensor module configured for monitoringan individual's body, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6B is an illustration of a sport ball including a sensor module formonitoring a sport ball, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of various components of an athletic activitymonitoring system communicating, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8A is an illustration of various components of an athletic activitymonitoring system communicating, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8B is an illustration of two sensor modules communicating,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a group monitoring system, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of an exemplary coordinate system, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of an exemplary coordinate system, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an illustration of an individual in a calibration state,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an illustration of an individual in motion, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an illustration of a ball and a charging base, according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an illustration of a ball in a calibration state, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an illustration of a ball in motion, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an illustration of a monitoring system, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18A is an illustration of an individual monitor and associatedcomponents, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18B is an illustration of an object monitor, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an illustration of a group monitoring device, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is an illustration of a group monitoring device, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is an illustration of an analysis device, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a diagram of a portion of a monitoring system, according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is an illustration of a display of a group monitoring device,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is an illustration of a display of a group monitoring device,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is an illustration of a display of a group monitoring device,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is an illustration of a display of a group monitoring device,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is an illustration of a display of a group monitoring device,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is an illustration of a display of a group monitoring device,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is an illustration of a display of a group monitoring device,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is an illustration of a display of a group monitoring device,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is an illustration of a display of a group monitoring device,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a flow chart illustrating a method for determiningperformance information for an object located within an area, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a flow chart illustrating a method for determiningperformance information for an object located within an area, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 34 is a flow chart illustrating a method for determining a positionof an object within an area, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 35 is a flow chart illustrating a method for determiningperformance information for an object located within an area, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a flow chart illustrating a method for tracking a first andsecond object as they move about an area, according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 37 is a flow chart illustrating a method for mapping a magneticfield of an athletic field area, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 38 is a flow chart illustrating a method for determiningperformance information for an object located within an area, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is an illustration of a magnetic field intensity map, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 40 is a graphical representation of magnetic field intensitymeasurements over a unit distance, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 41 is a graphical representation of average magnetic fieldintensity distribution for a unit distance within an area, according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 42 is a graphical representation of magnetic field intensitydistribution over a distance, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference toembodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an exampleembodiment”, “some embodiments”, etc., indicate that the embodimentdescribed may include a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include theparticular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrasesare not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within theknowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure,or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or notexplicitly described.

The term “invention” or “present invention” as used herein is anon-limiting term and is not intended to refer to any single embodimentof the particular invention but encompasses all possible embodiments asdescribed in the application.

Various aspects of the present invention, or any parts or functionsthereof, may be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, tangiblecomputer readable or computer usable storage media having instructionsstored thereon, or a combination thereof, and may be implemented in oneor more computer systems or other processing systems.

The present invention generally relates to methods of determiningperformance information for an object based on measuring the localmagnetic field. More particularly, embodiments of the present inventionrelate to methods of determining performance information for an object,such as the position or speed of the object, within an area by mappingmagnetic field information of the area and comparing magnetic field datameasurements taken as the object moves about the area to the mappeddata.

For example, if the individual is participating in an activity thatinvolves the use of a sport ball, such as playing in a soccer (i.e.,football) match, it may be desirable, for example, to be able todetermine the speed at which the soccer ball (i.e., football) was kickedby the individual, to be able to determine the location of the soccerball on the playing field in relation to a boundary line or goal, or tobe able to determine the relative amount of time the soccer ball spentin various areas of the playing field during a match.

As a further example, it may be desirable to be able to determine thelocation of an individual playing a sport, for example basketball, at aspecific time or over the course of a game. It may also be desirable todetermine the speed at which the individual moves about the court andthe path the individual takes as they move about the court during agame.

In an embodiment, the positions and movement and of the bodies of aplurality of individuals engaged in an athletic activity (e.g.,teammates or opponents in a team sport) and/or the movement of aplurality of pieces of athletic equipment used by the individuals duringthe athletic activity may be monitored. In some embodiments, real-timemonitoring and/or feedback may be provided, while in other embodimentspost-activity feedback may be provided.

By using an athletic activity monitoring system including one or moreportable sensors, embodiments of the present invention described belowmay advantageously enable an individual (or their coach, teammate, or aspectator) to obtain this or other information about the position of theindividual's body or the position of a piece of the individual'sathletic equipment during the course of the athletic activity. Dataobtained by sensors may be processed in a variety of ways to yielduseful information about the position and movement of an object ofinterest during the activity. In some embodiments, sensor data may beprocessed to determine changes in the spatial orientation (i.e., changesin position, relative to a specific location on the earth, the playingfield or other point of reference) of the individual's body or a pieceof the individual's athletic equipment. In other embodiments, sensordata may be processed by reference to stored reference data for aparticular area, such as the playing field.

In one embodiment, information about the position and movement of theindividual's body or the position and movement of a piece of theindividual's athletic equipment may be used, for example, to providecoaching to the individual about how their position or movement could beimproved, or as a check on the accuracy of a referee, umpire, or otherathletic competition judge's judgment related to the position ormovement of the individual's body or athletic equipment.

Suitable monitoring systems and components may include, for example, thesystems and components disclosed in commonly owned U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/446,937, titled “ATHLETIC ACTIVITY MONITORINGMETHODS AND SYSTEMS,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/446,982,titled “SPORT BALL ATHLETIC ACTIVITY MONITORING METHODS AND SYSTEMS,”and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/446,986, titled “WEARABLEATHLETIC ACTIVITY MONITORING METHODS AND SYSTEMS,” whose disclosures areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an individual 100 using an athleticactivity monitoring system 10 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. The individual 100 may desire to obtain information about theposition and movement of the individual's 100 body or the position andmovement of a piece of the individual's 100 athletic equipment duringthe course of the athletic activity using athletic activity monitoringsystems 10 according to the present invention.

Athletic activity monitoring systems 10 according to embodiments of thepresent invention may be suitable for use by individuals 100 for team orindividual athletic activities and for competitive and informal trainingsessions. For example, athletic activity monitoring systems 10 accordingto embodiments of the present invention may be suitable for use byindividuals 100 engaged in athletic activities such as baseball,basketball, bowling, boxing, cricket, cycling, football (i.e., Americanfootball), golf, hockey, lacrosse, rowing, rugby, running,skateboarding, skiing, soccer (i.e., football), surfing, swimming, tabletennis, tennis, or volleyball, or during training sessions relatedthereto.

Athletic activity monitoring systems 10 according to embodiments of thepresent invention may include a sensor module 102. The sensor module 102may include one or more sensors, and may be physically coupled to anobject 104 during an athletic activity conducted by an individual 100.As explained in further detail below, the sensor module 102 may be usedto monitor changes in the spatial orientation of the individual's 100body 106 or a piece of the individual's athletic equipment 108 in someembodiments, while the sensor module 102 may be used in combination withpredetermined correlation data stored in a data structure to determine acorrelation between body 106 or equipment 108 movement data and anactivity metric in other embodiments.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the monitored object 104may be the individual's 100 body 106, and the sensor module 102 may bephysically coupled to the individual's 100 body 106. In the illustratedembodiment, the sensor module 102 is configured to be physically coupledto the portion of the individual's 100 body 106 known as the chest. Inother embodiments, the sensor module 102 may be configured to bephysically coupled to other portions of the individual's 100 body 106such as, for example, the individual's head, neck, shoulder, back, arm,wrist, hand, finger, waist, hip, leg, ankle, foot, or toe.

In some embodiments, the sensor module 102 may be configured to bephysically coupled to the portion of the individual's 100 body 106 withone or more layers of clothing, an article of footwear, or athleticprotective equipment existing between the sensor module 102 and theindividual's 100 body 106. Regardless of whether intervening articlesare present, the sensor module 102 may be physically coupled to theportion of the individual's 100 body 106 by a variety of releasable ornon-releasable coupling means such as, for example, straps, adhesives,pockets, clips, or by being integrated into an article of clothing(e.g., shirt, pants, sock, glove, or hat), footwear, or athleticprotective equipment worn by the individual 100.

In one embodiment, the sensor module 102 may be configured to be placedin a sensor module 102 retention element of a garment that is configuredto retain the sensor module 102. In some exemplary embodiments, theretention element may be sized and shaped to correspond to the size andshape of the sensor module 102, to be capable of nesting sensor module102 therein and holding the sensor module 102 in place so as to minimizethe effect of movement of a wearer of the garment on the sensor module102. Additional elements may be used to help minimize this effect, suchas, for example, bands and spacer elements. The sensor module 102retention element may be coupled to textile a layer of a garment by, forexample, being integral therewith, being adhered, stitched, welded,tied, clipped, snapped, or mounted thereto, or any combination of theseand other techniques. In some exemplary embodiments, sensor module 102retention element is formed integrally with a textile layer of thegarment.

In some embodiments, the sensor module 102 retention element may bepositioned to correspond to the upper back of a wearer of the sensormodule 102. The sensor module 102 retention element to correspond to ahigh position on the wearer, such as the upper back, may help minimizeinterference and maximize range and signal strength of the sensor module102 within the sensor module 102 retention element when the sensormodule 102 sends or receives data. Additionally, positioning the sensormodule 102 retention element to correspond to the upper back minimizesinterference with athlete movements by the sensor module 102. In someexemplary embodiments, sensor module 102 retention element is positionedto correspond to other than the upper back of a wearer.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the object 104 may be apiece of athletic equipment 108 used by the individual 100 during theathletic activity, and the sensor module 102 may be physically coupledto the piece of athletic equipment 108. In the illustrated embodiment,the sensor module 102 is physically coupled to a piece of athleticequipment 108 that is a soccer ball. In other embodiments, the sensormodule 102 may be configured to be physically coupled to other pieces ofathletic equipment 108 such as, for example, any type of sport ball, anytype of sport “stick” (e.g., a baseball bat, hockey stick, golf club,table tennis paddle, or tennis racquet), a sport glove, a bicycle, anoar, a shoe, a boot, a ski, a hat or cap, a skateboard, a surfboard, ora pair of glasses or goggles.

The sensor module 102 may be physically coupled to the piece of athleticequipment 108 by a variety of coupling means depending on the nature ofthe piece of athletic equipment 108 and the athletic activity. Forexample, the sensor module 102 may be physically coupled to a sport ballby being attached to the exterior of the ball, by being attached to aninterior surface of a hollow ball, by being suspended by a suspensionsystem in the interior of a hollow ball, or by being integrated into theouter layer or other layer of a multi-layer ball. Also, the sensormodule 102 may be physically coupled to a non-hollow sport ball (e.g., abaseball, bowling ball, or golf ball) by, for example, being attached tothe exterior of the ball, being integrated between layers of amulti-layer ball, by being embedded in a solid portion of the ball. Asfurther examples, the sensor module 102 may be releasably ornon-releasably physically coupled to a sport “stick” by being wrappedaround a portion of the sport stick, by being clipped to a portion ofthe sport stick, by being attached to an exterior surface of the sportstick, by being attached to an interior surface of a hollow ornon-hollow sport stick, by being suspended by a suspension system in theinterior of a hollow sport stick, or by being integrated into the wallor other layer of a multi-layer or composite sport stick. The sensormodule 102 may be physically coupled to the piece of athletic equipment108 by a variety of coupling means such as, for example, straps,adhesives, or by being integrated into the piece of athletic equipment108.

In other embodiments, the sensor module 102 may be integrated within anexisting piece of athletic activity monitoring equipment such as, forexample, a heart rate monitoring device, a pedometer, andaccelerometer-based monitoring device, or other portable fitnessmonitoring device such as, for example, devices sold by adidas AG ofHerzogenaurach, Germany under the MICOACH, PACER, ZONE, or SPEED CELLbrand names.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of examples of various different pieces ofathletic equipment 108 that could be used according to embodiments ofthe monitoring system 10 of the present invention. As illustrated, themonitoring system 10 of the present invention may be used with a varietyof different pieces of athletic equipment 108, such as, for example, abasketball, a football, a baseball bat, a baseball, a bowling ball, ahockey stick, a hockey puck, a skateboard, a surfboard, a bicycle, apair of skis, ski poles, a tennis racquet, a tennis ball, an article offootwear, a boxing glove, a golf club, or a golf ball.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of components of a sensor module 102 accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. In the illustratedembodiment, the sensor module 102 includes a processor 110, a powersource 112, a memory 114, an acceleration sensor 116, a magnetic fieldsensor 118, and a transceiver 122 operatively connected to one anotherto carry out the functionality of the sensor module 102. In otherembodiments, one or more of these sensor module 102 components may beomitted, or one or more additional components may be added. For example,in some embodiments that rely primarily or exclusively on magnetic fielddata to determine performance information for an object 104, such as theposition or speed of the object 104, the sensor module 102 may include amagnetic field sensor 118 but omit an acceleration sensor 116.

The processor 110 may be adapted to implement application programsstored in the memory 114 of the sensor module 102. The processor 110 mayalso be capable of implementing analog or digital signal processingalgorithms such as raw data reduction and filtering. For example,processor 110 may be configured to receive raw data from sensors andprocess such data at the sensor module 102. The processor 110 isoperatively connected to the power source 112, the memory 114, theacceleration sensor 116, the magnetic field sensor 118, and thetransceiver 122.

The power source 112 may be adapted to provide power to the sensormodule 102. In one embodiment, the power source 112 may be a battery.The power source may be built into the sensor module 102 or removablefrom the sensor module 102, and may be rechargeable or non-rechargeable.In an embodiment, the power source 112 may be recharged by being pluggedinto a cable attached to a charging source, such as a universal serialbus (“USB”) cable attached to a personal computer. In anotherembodiment, the power source 112 may be recharged by inductive charging,wherein an electromagnetic field is used to transfer energy from aninductive charger to the power source 112 when the two are brought inclose proximity, but need not be plugged into one another via a cable.In some embodiment, a docking station may be used to facilitatecharging.

The memory 114 may be adapted to store application program instructionsand to store athletic activity data. In an embodiment, the memory 114may store application programs used to implement aspects of thefunctionality of the athletic activity monitoring system 10 describedherein. In one embodiment, the memory 114 may store raw data, recordeddata, and/or calculated data. In some embodiments, as explained infurther detail below, the memory 114 may act as a data storage buffer.The memory 114 may include both read only memory and random accessmemory, and may further include memory cards or other removable storagedevices.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the memory 114 may storeraw data, recorded data, and/or calculated data permanently, while inother embodiments the memory 114 may only store all or some datatemporarily, such as in a buffer. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, the memory 114, and/or a buffer related thereto, may storedata in memory locations of predetermined size such that only a certainquantity of data may be saved for a particular application of thepresent invention.

The acceleration sensor 116 may be adapted to measure the accelerationof the sensor module 102. Accordingly, when the sensor module 102 isphysically coupled to an object 104 (such as an individual's 100 body106 or a piece of athletic equipment 108), the acceleration sensor 116may be capable of measuring the acceleration of the object 104,including the acceleration due to the earth's gravitational field. Inone embodiment, the acceleration sensor 116 may include a tri-axialaccelerometer that is capable of measuring acceleration in threeorthogonal directions. In other embodiments one, two, three, or moreseparate accelerometers may be used.

The magnetic field sensor 118 may be adapted to measure the intensityand/or direction of magnetic fields in the vicinity of the sensor module102. Accordingly, when the sensor module 102 is physically coupled to anobject 104 (such as an individual's 100 body 106 or a piece of athleticequipment 108), the magnetic field sensor 118 may be capable ofmeasuring the intensity and/or direction of magnetic fields in thevicinity of the object 104, including the earth's magnetic field. In oneembodiment, the magnetic field sensor 118 may be a vector magnetometer.In other embodiments, the magnetic field sensor 118 may be a tri-axialmagnetometer that is capable of measuring the magnitude and direction ofa resultant magnetic vector for the total local magnetic field in threedimensions. In other embodiments one, two, three, or more separatemagnetometers may be used.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the acceleration sensor 116and the magnetic field sensor 118 may be contained within a singleaccelerometer-magnetometer module bearing model number LSM303DLHC madeby STMicroelectronics of Geneva, Switzerland. In other embodiments, thesensor module 102 may include only one of the acceleration sensor 116and the magnetic field sensor 118, and may omit the other if desired.For example, in some embodiments that rely primarily or exclusively onmagnetic field data to determine performance information for an object104, such as the position or speed of the object 104, the sensor module102 may include a magnetic field sensor 118 but omit an accelerationsensor 116.

The transceiver 122 depicted in FIG. 4 may enable the sensor module 102to wirelessly communicate with other components of the athletic activitymonitoring system 10, such as those described in further detail below.In one embodiment, the sensor module 102 and the other local componentsof the athletic activity monitoring system 10 may communicate over apersonal area network or local area network using, for example, one ormore of the following protocols: ANT, ANT+ by Dynastream Innovations,Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy Technology, BlueRobin, or suitablewireless personal or local area network protocols. Other knowncommunication protocols suitable for an athletic activity monitoringsystem 10 may also be used.

In one embodiment, the transceiver 122 is a low-power transceiver. Insome embodiments, the transceiver 122 may be a two-way communicationtransceiver 122, while in other embodiments the transceiver 122 may be aone-way transmitter or a one-way receiver. Wireless communicationbetween the sensor module 102 and other components of the athleticactivity monitoring system 10 is described in further detail below. Inother embodiments, the sensor module 102 may be in wired communicationwith other components of the athletic activity monitoring system 10 thatdoes not rely on transceiver 122.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a sensor module 102 havingcomponents such as those depicted in FIG. 4 may be physically coupled toan object 104 during an athletic activity conducted by an individual 100to monitor changes in the spatial orientation of the individual's 100body 106 or a piece of the individual's athletic equipment 108, todetermine a correlation between body 106 or equipment 108 movement dataand an activity metric, or to compare measured data to previouslymeasured and recorded data. In these embodiments, the accelerationsensor 116 and the magnetic field sensor 118 may be responsible forcollecting the data necessary to carry out the various monitoringcalculations.

In some other embodiments, however, it may be desirable to haveadditional sensors included within the sensor module 102, or to haveadditional sensors in communication with the sensor module 102. Infurther embodiments, the sensor module 102 may be integrated within anexisting piece of athletic activity monitoring equipment possibly havingadditional or different sensors such as, for example, a heart ratemonitoring device, a pedometer, and accelerometer-based monitoringdevice, or other portable fitness monitoring device such as, forexample, devices sold by adidas AG of Herzogenaurach, Germany under theMICOACH, PACER, ZONE, or SPEED CELL brand names.

In addition to the acceleration sensor 116 and the magnetic field sensor118, other sensors that may be part of the sensor module 102 or separatefrom but in communication with the sensor module 102 may include sensorscapable of measuring a variety of athletic performance parameters. Theterm “performance parameters” may include physical parameters and/orphysiological parameters associated with the individual's 100 athleticactivity. Physical parameters measured may include, but are not limitedto, time, distance, speed, location, pace, pedal count, wheel rotationcount, rotation generally, stride count, stride length, airtime, striderate, altitude, strain, impact force, jump force, force generally, andjump height. Physiological parameters measured may include, but are notlimited to, heart rate, respiration rate, blood oxygen level, bloodlactate level, blood flow, hydration level, calories burned, or bodytemperature.

Actual sensors that may be capable of measuring these parameters mayinclude, but are not limited to, a pedometer, a pulsimeter, athermometer, an altimeter, a pressure sensor, a strain gage, a bicyclepower meter, a bicycle crank or wheel position sensor, a magneticsensor, an angular momentum sensor (e.g., a gyroscope), a resistancesensor, or a force sensor.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of components of a sensor module 102 accordingto another embodiment of the present invention that may incorporate someof the additional sensors mentioned above, as well as other additionalcomponents. In the illustrated embodiment, the sensor module 102includes a processor 110, a power source 112, a memory 114, anacceleration sensor 116, a magnetic field sensor 118, a user interface120, and a transceiver 122, an angular momentum sensor 124, a heart ratesensor 126, a temperature sensor 128, a position receiver 130, a dataport 132, and a timer 134 operatively connected to one another to carryout the functionality of the sensor module 102. In other embodiments,one or more of these sensor module 102 components may be omitted, or oneor more additional components may be added.

The processor 110, the power source 112, the memory 114, theacceleration sensor 116, the magnetic field sensor 118, and thetransceiver 122 of the embodiment of FIG. 5 may have structures andfunctions similar to those described above with respect to analogouscomponents in FIG. 4.

The user interface 120 of the sensor module 102 may be used by theindividual 100 to interact with the sensor module 102. In an embodiment,the user interface 120 may include one or more input buttons, switches,or keys, including virtual buttons, switches, or keys of a graphicaluser interface touch screen surface. The function of each of thesebuttons, switches, or keys may be determined based on an operating modeof the sensor module 102. In one embodiment, the user interface 120 mayinclude a touch pad, scroll pad and/or touch screen. In anotherembodiment, the user interface 120 may include capacitance switches. Ina further embodiment, the user interface 120 may include voice-activatedcontrols.

In some embodiments, however, the sensor module 102 may not include auser interface 120. In these embodiments, the sensor module 102 may becapable of communicating with other components of the athletic activitymonitoring system 10 which may themselves include user interfaces.

The angular momentum sensor 124, which may be, for example, a gyroscope,may be adapted to measure the angular momentum or orientation of thesensor module 102. Accordingly, when the sensor module 102 is physicallycoupled to an object 104 (such as an individual's 100 body 106 orathletic equipment 108), the angular momentum sensor 124 may be capableof measuring the angular momentum or orientation of the object 104. Inone embodiment, the angular momentum sensor 124 may be a tri-axialgyroscope that is capable of measuring angular rotation about threeorthogonal axis. In other embodiments one, two, three, or more separategyroscopes may be used. In an embodiment, the angular momentum sensor124 may be used to calibrate measurements made by one or more of theacceleration sensor 116 and the magnetic field sensor 118.

The heart rate sensor 125 may be adapted to measure an individual'sheart rate. The heart rate sensor 125 may be placed in contact with theindividual's 100 skin, such as the skin of the individual's chest, andsecured with a strap. The heart rate sensor 125 may be capable ofreading the electrical activity the individual's 100 heart.

The temperature sensor 128 may be, for example, a thermometer, athermistor, or a thermocouple that measures changes in the temperature.In some embodiments, the temperature sensor 128 may primarily be usedfor calibration other sensors of the athletic activity monitoring system10, such as, for example, the acceleration sensor 116 and the magneticfield sensor 118.

In one embodiment, the position receiver 130 may be an electronicsatellite position receiver that is capable of determining its location(i.e., longitude, latitude, and altitude) using time signals transmittedalong a line-of-sight by radio from satellite position systemsatellites. Known satellite position systems include the GPS system, theGalileo system, the BeiDou system, and the GLONASS system. In anotherembodiment, the position receiver 130 may be an antennae that is capableof communicating with local or remote base stations or radiotransmission transceivers such that the location of the sensor module102 may be determined using radio signal triangulation or other similarprinciples. In some embodiments, position receiver 130 data may allowthe sensor module 102 to detect information that may be used to measureand/or calculate position waypoints, time, location, distance traveled,speed, pace, or altitude.

The data port 132 may facilitate information transfer to and from thesensor module 102 and may be, for example, a USB port. In some exemplaryembodiments, data port 132 can additionally or alternatively facilitatepower transfer to power source 112, in order to charge power source 112.

The timer 134 may be a clock that is capable of tracking absolute timeand/or determining elapsed time. In some embodiments, the timer 134 maybe used to timestamp certain data records, such that the time thatcertain data was measured or recorded may be determined and varioustimestamps of various pieces of data may be correlated with one another.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a sensor module 102 havingcomponents such as those depicted in FIG. 5 may be physically coupled toan object 104 during an athletic activity conducted by an individual 100to monitor changes in the spatial orientation of the individual's 100body 106 or a piece of the individual's athletic equipment 108, todetermine a correlation between body 106 or equipment 108 movement dataand an activity metric, or to compare measured data to previouslymeasured and recorded data. In these embodiments, the accelerationsensor 116, the magnetic field sensor 118, and/or other included sensorsmay be responsible for collecting the data necessary to carry out thevarious monitoring calculations. In some other embodiments, however, itmay be desirable to have additional sensors included within the sensormodule 102, to have additional sensors in communication with the sensormodule 102, or to have fewer sensors with the sensor module 102.

FIG. 6A is an illustration of a sensor module 102 configured formonitoring an individual's 100 body 106 according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. The illustrated sensor module 102 may be similarto the sensor module 102 illustrated in FIG. 1 as being configured to bephysically coupled to the portion of the individual's 100 body 106 knownas the chest. In some embodiments of the present invention, the sensormodule 102 of FIG. 6A may be physically coupled to an individual's 100body 106 during an athletic activity to monitor changes in the spatialorientation of the individual's 100 body 106, to determine a correlationbetween body 106 movement data and an activity metric, or to comparemeasured data to previously measured and recorded data.

As illustrated in FIG. 6A, in one embodiment, the sensor module 102 mayinclude a housing 136. The housing 136 may contain and protect thevarious electronic components of the exemplary sensor modules 102described above with reference to FIG. 4 or FIG. 5. Though the housing136 is illustrated as a circular disc-shaped housing in FIG. 6A, thehousing may take on any suitable size and shape that is able toaccommodate the necessary components of the sensor module 102 and tophysically couple to the desired part of the individual's 100 body 106.In one embodiment, the housing may be made of plastic, such as, forexample, TPU, or other suitably durable material.

In some embodiments, the sensor module 102 may also include a buttonand/or a display. The button may serve as the user interface of thesensor module 102. The button may be capable of turning the sensormodule 102 on and off, toggling through various display options, orserving a variety of other functions. Alternatively, multiple buttons orno buttons may be provided. In one embodiment, the display may be arelatively simple LED display that is capable of conveying the status orbattery life of the sensor module 102 to an individual 100. In anotherembodiment, the display may be a more advanced display that is capableof displaying performance parameter information, feedback, or otherinformation to the individual 100, such as a seven-segment LCD display.Alternatively, no button or display may be provided, as illustrated inFIG. 6A.

FIG. 6B is an illustration of a sport ball comprising a sensor module102 for monitoring the sport ball according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. The illustrated sensor module 102 may be similar tothe sensor module 102 illustrated in FIG. 2 as being configured to bephysically coupled to a piece of athletic equipment 108 that is a soccerball. In some embodiments of the present invention, the sensor module102 of FIG. 6B that is incorporated in the soccer ball may be usedduring an athletic activity to monitor changes in the spatialorientation of the soccer ball, to determine a correlation between ballmovement data and an activity metric, or to compare measured data topreviously measured and recorded data, as a result of, for example theindividual 100 kicking the soccer ball.

As illustrated in FIG. 6B, the ball may include an outer layer 142enclosing a hollow void of the ball. The outer layer 142 may bestitched, bonded, and/or glued together from panels of leather orplastic and laced to allow access to an internal air bladder, ifnecessary. In other embodiments, the ball may be a non-hollow sport ball(e.g., a baseball, bowling ball, or golf ball) including a single, solidlayer or multiple different layers. In some embodiments, the sensormodule 102 may be attached to or incorporated into the ball prior tosale to an individual, while in other embodiments the individual maylater insert the sensor module 102 after purchasing the ball. In someembodiments, the ball may include a button and a display that may besimilar to those described above with respect to the body-mounted sensormodule 102, if present. Alternatively, no button or display may beprovided, as illustrated in FIG. 6B.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the sensor module 102 maycommunicate with other components of the athletic activity monitoringsystem 10 via wired or wireless technologies. Communication between thesensor module 102 and other components of the athletic activitymonitoring system 10 may be desirable for a variety of reasons. Forexample, to the extent that the sensor module 102 records and storesathletic activity information, it may be useful to transmit thisinformation to another electronic device for additional data processing,data visualization, sharing with others, comparison to previouslyrecorded athletic activity information, or a variety of other purposes.As a further example, to the extent that the sensor module 102 hasinsufficient processing power, wide area network transmissioncapabilities, sensor capabilities, or other capabilities, thesecapabilities can be provided by other components of the athleticactivity monitoring system 10. With this in mind, possiblecommunications means are described briefly below.

Wired communication between the sensor module 102 and a personalcomputer 204 may be achieved, for example, by placing the sensor module102 in a docking unit that is attached to the personal computer 204using a communications wire plugged into a communications port of thepersonal computer 204. In another embodiment, wired communicationbetween the sensor module 102 and the personal computer 204 may beachieved, for example, by connecting a cable between the sensor module102 and the computer 204. The data port 132 of the sensor module 102 anda communications port of the computer 204 may include USB ports. Thecable connecting the sensor module 102 and the computer 204 may be a USBcable with suitable USB plugs including, but not limited to, USB-A orUSB-B regular, mini, or micro plugs, or other suitable cable such as,for example, a FireWire, Ethernet or Thunderbolt cable. As previouslyexplained above, in some embodiments, such cables could be used tofacilitate power transfer to a power source 112 of the sensor module102, in order to charge the power source 112. Alternatively, the powersource 112 may be recharged by inductive charging, or by using a dockingstation.

Wired connection to a personal computer 204 may be useful, for example,to upload athletic activity information from the sensor module 102 tothe personal computer 204, or to download application software updatesor settings from the personal computer 204 to the sensor module 102.

Wireless communication between the sensor module 102 and the personalcomputer 204 may be achieved, for example, by way of a wireless widearea network (such as, for example, the Internet), a wireless local areanetwork, or a wireless personal area network. As is well known to thoseskilled in the art, there are a number of known standard and proprietaryprotocols that are suitable for implementing wireless area networks(e.g., TCP/IP, IEEE 802.16, Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy, ANT, ANT+by Dynastream Innovations, or BlueRobin). Accordingly, embodiments ofthe present invention are not limited to using any particular protocolto communicate between the sensor module 102 and the various elements ofthe athletic activity monitoring system 10 of the present invention.

In one embodiment, the sensor module 102 may communicate with a wirelesswide area network communications system such as that employed by mobiletelephones. For example, a wireless wide area network communicationsystem may include a plurality of geographically distributedcommunication towers and base station systems. Communication towers mayinclude one or more antennae supporting long-range two-way radiofrequency communication wireless devices, such as sensor module 102. Theradio frequency communication between antennae and the sensor module 102may utilize radio frequency signals conforming to any known or futuredeveloped wireless protocol, for example, CDMA, GSM, EDGE, 3G, 4G, IEEE802.x (e.g., IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX)), etc. The information transmittedover-the-air by the base station systems and the cellular communicationtowers to the sensor module 102 may be further transmitted to orreceived from one or more additional circuit-switched or packet-switchedcommunication networks, including, for example, the Internet.

As shown in FIG. 7, communication may also occur between the sensormodule 102, a personal computer 204, and/or a remote server 202 via anetwork 200. In an embodiment, the network 200 is the Internet. TheInternet is a worldwide collection of servers, routers, switches andtransmission lines that employ the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) tocommunicate data. The network 200 may also be employed for communicationbetween any two or more of the sensor module 102, the personal computer204, the server 202, and a docking unit. In an embodiment of the presentinvention, information is directly communicated between the sensormodule 102 and the server 202 via the network 200, thus bypassing thepersonal computer 204.

A variety of information may be communicated between any of the sensormodule 102, the personal computer 204, the network 200, the server 202,or other electronic components such as, for example, another sensormodule 102, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, or other portableelectronic devices. Such information may include, for example,performance parameter data, device settings (including sensor module 102settings), software, and firmware.

Communication among the various elements of the present invention mayoccur after the athletic activity has been completed or in real-timeduring the athletic activity. In addition, the interaction between, forexample, the sensor module 102 and the personal computer 204, and theinteraction between the personal computer 204 and the server 202 mayoccur at different times.

In some embodiments of the present invention, an individual 100 usingthe athletic activity monitoring system 10 may participate in theactivity with the sensor module 102 physically coupled to theindividual's body 106 or to a piece of athletic equipment 108, but withno other portable electronic devices making up part of the athleticactivity monitoring system 10 in the individual's immediate vicinity. Insuch an embodiment, the sensor module 102 would monitor the athleticactivity using its sensors. The sensor module 102 may also performcalculations necessary to monitor changes in the spatial orientation ofthe individual's 100 body 106 or a piece of the individual's athleticequipment 108, perform calculations necessary to determine a correlationbetween body 106 or equipment 108 movement data and an activity metric,or to compare measured data to previously measured and recorded data.

Alternatively, in this scenario, other components of the athleticactivity monitoring system 10 that are remotely located from theindividual 100 during the activity could be relied upon to performcalculations necessary to monitor changes in the spatial orientation ofthe individual's 100 body 106 or a piece of the individual's athleticequipment 108, or perform calculations necessary to determine acorrelation between body 106 or equipment 108 movement data and anactivity metric. This could occur, for example after wirelesstransmission of athletic performance information directly from thesensor module 102 to a personal computer 204 or a server 202 during orafter the activity, or after a wired transmission of athleticperformance information directly from the sensor module 102 to apersonal computer 204 after the activity.

However, in other embodiments of the present invention, as illustratedin FIG. 8A, the sensor module 102 may communicate with a portableelectronic device 206 of the athletic activity monitoring system 10 thatis also carried by the individual 100 during the athletic activity. Insome embodiments, the portable electronic device 206 may be a watch, amobile phone, a tablet computer, or other portable electronic device.

The portable electronic device 206 may serve a variety of purposesincluding, for example, providing additional data processing, providingadditional data storage, providing data visualization, providingadditional sensor capabilities, relaying information to a network 200,or providing for the playback of music.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the portable electronicdevice 206 may be a dedicated portable electronic device 206. The term“dedicated portable electronic device” indicates that the portableelectronic device 206 is not capable of serving another purpose outsideof the athletic activity monitoring system 10 of the present invention.For example, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, or a digitalmusic file player (e.g., an MP3 player) may not be considered to be“dedicated portable electronic monitoring devices” as the term is usedherein. In this manner, the dedicated portable electronic monitoringdevice 206 may in some embodiments provide a simpler and/or moreefficient device.

The portable electronic device 206 illustrated in FIG. 8A is not adedicated portable electronic monitoring device; the portable electronicdevice 206 illustrated in FIG. 8A is a mobile phone. In alternateembodiments, it may be possible for the sensor module 102 itself to beembodied by a mobile phone. Including a portable electronic device 206in the athletic activity monitoring system 10, such as a mobile phone,may be desirable as mobile phones are commonly carried by individuals,even when engaging in athletic activities, and they are capable ofproviding significant additional computing and communication power at noadditional cost to the individual 100.

In view of the above discussion, it is apparent that various processingsteps or other calculations recited herein may be capable of beingperformed by various embodiments of the athletic activity monitoringsystem 10 disclosed herein, and are not necessarily limited to beingperformed by the sensor module 102, depending on the configuration of aparticular embodiment of the present invention. For example, any of theprocessing steps or other calculations recited herein may be performed,in various embodiments, by the sensor module 102, by a server computer202, by a personal computer 204, by a portable electronic device 206,and/or any other network component, or by more than one component.

Embodiments of the present invention may involve the use of so-called“cloud computing.” Cloud computing may include the delivery of computingas a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software,and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utilityover a network (typically the Internet). Cloud computing may entrustservices (typically centralized) with a user's data, software andcomputation on a published application programming interface over anetwork. End users may access cloud-based applications through a webbrowser or a light weight desktop or mobile app while the businesssoftware and data are stored on servers at a remote location. Cloudapplication providers often strive to give the same or better serviceand performance than if the software programs were installed locally onend-user computers.

FIG. 8B illustrates a first sensor module 102 in wireless communicationwith a second sensor module 102. In an embodiment, such communicationmay be desirable so that different individuals 100, includingindividuals 100 on the same athletic team, can compare their performancein athletic activities or otherwise exchange data without having tofirst transmit data through a remote computer such as a personalcomputer 204 or a server 202.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a group monitoring system according to anembodiment of the present invention. In an exemplary embodiment, groupmonitoring system 250, depicted in, for example, FIG. 9, includesportable electronic devices 206, a base station 260, and at least onegroup monitoring device 270. Portable electronic device 206 may becoupled to an individual 100. Portable electronic device 206 may includeor be in communication with a sensor module 102 or individual sensorsassociated with an individual 100 or their athletic equipment 108,including, but not limited to, an acceleration sensor 116, a magneticfield sensor 118, a pedometer, a heart rate monitor, a position sensor,an impact sensor, a camera, a gyroscope, a microphone, a temperaturesensor, and a wind sensor.

In an exemplary embodiment, the portable electronic device 206 and/orthe sensor module 102 may include a sensor garment, a heart ratemonitor, and a position sensor. The position sensor may include, forexample, a position sensor for use with a satellite-based positioningsystem, a position sensor for use with a beacon system (e.g., positiondetermination using triangulation and/or time differences of signalsreceived by antennas at known positions about a field or activity area),or a position sensor for use with any other suitableposition-determining system. In some exemplary embodiments, groupmonitoring device 270 may be used by a coach.

Sensor modules 102 may be mounted to individuals 100 in preparation forparticipation by individuals 100 in a session of athletic activity.Sensor modules 102 mounted to a particular individual 100 may becoupled, either via wires or wirelessly, to a portable electronic device206, also mounted on the particular individual 100. The sensor modules102 may sense characteristics about individuals 100 during participationby individuals 100 in the session of athletic activity, and transmitdata indicative of the characteristics to the portable electronic device206. The portable electronic device 206 in turn transmits the data tobase station 260 during the session of athletic activity.

In some exemplary embodiments, this transmission occurs in real time.“Real time” as used herein may include delays inherent to transmissiontechnology, delays designed to optimize resources, and other inherent ordesirable delays that would be apparent to one of skill in the art. Insome exemplary embodiments, this transmission is delayed from real time,or may occur after completion of the activity. Base station 260 mayreceive the data and may determine metrics from the data, where themetrics may be representations of the characteristics measured by sensormodules 102, or may be representations of further characteristicsderived from the data through the use of algorithms and other datamanipulation techniques. Base station 260 in turn may transmit themetrics during the session of athletic activity to group monitoringdevice 270, which may receive the metrics and display a representationof the metrics.

Group monitoring device 270 may receive metrics associated with aplurality of individuals 100, and may display the received metrics inassociation with the individuals 100 with which they are associated. Inthis way, a coach viewing group monitoring device 270 during the sessionof athletic activity receives detailed information about multipleindividuals 100, and can act on that information as it is determinednecessary or expedient, thereby efficiently monitoring and managingindividuals 100 during the session of athletic activity.

Suitable group monitoring systems and components may include, forexample, the systems and components disclosed in commonly owned U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/077,494, titled “Group PerformanceMonitoring System and Method,” U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/077,510, titled “Group Performance Monitoring System and Method,” andU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/543,428, titled “Group PerformanceMonitoring System and Method,” whose disclosures are incorporated hereinby reference in their entireties.

An overview of exemplary embodiments of components of the athleticactivity monitoring system 10 of the present invention, includingexemplary sensor modules 102, has been provided above. A description ofvarious exemplary methods of using the athletic activity monitoringsystem 10 of the present invention to monitor changes in the spatialorientation of the individual's 100 body 106 or a piece of theindividual's athletic equipment 108, to determine a correlation betweenbody 106 or equipment 108 movement data and an activity metric, or tocompare measured data to previously measured and recorded data is nowprovided below.

An individual 100 engaged in an athletic activity (or another interestedperson such as a coach, teammate, or spectator) may desire to obtaininformation about the position and movement of the individual's 100 body106 or the position and movement of a piece of the individual's athleticequipment 108 during the course of the athletic activity.

For example, if the individual 100 is participating in an activity thatinvolves the use of a sport ball, such as playing in a soccer match, itmay be desirable, for example, to be able to determine the variouslaunch angles at which the soccer ball (i.e., football) was kicked bythe individual 100, to be able to determine the rate of rotation of thesoccer ball after it was kicked by the individual 100, to be able todetermine various positions of the soccer ball on the field, or to beable to determine the peak speeds that the soccer ball was traveling atafter being kicked by the individual 100.

As a further example, if the individual 100 is participating in anactivity that involves various movements the individual's 100 chest,such practicing basketball skills, it may be desirable, for example, tobe able to identify instances when the individual 100 cut to the left orcut to the right when trying to dribble around a defender, to be able todetermine the position of and amount of time spent by the individual 100at certain locations on the court, to be able to determine the heightthat the individual 100 jumped or the force that the individual 100jumped with when taking jump shots, attempting dunks, or attempting toblock shots, or to be able to determine the individual's 100 reactiontime when working on basketball-related reaction time drills.

By using the athletic activity monitoring system 10 including the sensormodule 102 described above, embodiments of the present invention mayadvantageously enable the individual 100 (or their coach, teammate, or aspectator) to obtain this or other information about the position andmovement of the individual's 100 body 106 or the position and movementof a piece of the individual's 100 athletic equipment 108 during orafter the course of the athletic activity.

While various embodiments of the present invention are described in thecontext of the sports of soccer (i.e., football) and basketball, thepresent invention is not so limited and may be applied in a variety ofdifferent sports or athletic activities including, for example,baseball, bowling, boxing, cricket, cycling, football (i.e., Americanfootball), golf, hockey, lacrosse, rowing, rugby, running,skateboarding, skiing, surfing, swimming, table tennis, tennis, orvolleyball, or during training sessions related thereto. In addition,activity metrics described as being capable of being determined insoccer may be capable of being determined in basketball, or vice versa,when appropriate.

Data obtained by the sensor module 102 may be processed in a variety ofways to yield useful information about the motion of an object 104 ofinterest during the activity. In some embodiments, sensor module 102data may be processed to monitor changes in the spatial orientation ofthe individual's 100 body 106 or a piece of the individual's 100athletic equipment 108. In other embodiment, sensor module 102 data maybe processed to by reference to a predetermined correlation betweenmovement data and an activity metric stored in a data structure. Inother embodiments, measured data may be compared with previouslymeasured and recorded data.

Regardless of whether the athletic activity monitoring system 10 and thesensor module 102 are being used to monitor the individual's 100 body106 or a piece of the individual's 100 athletic equipment 108, inembodiments of the present invention where there is a desire to monitorchanges in the spatial orientation or movement of the individual's 100body 106 or the piece of the individual's 100 athletic equipment 108, acommon analytical framework may be used to carry out the monitoring. Insuch an embodiment, the individual 100 may use the sensor module 102 inthe athletic activity monitoring system 10 to determine a change inspatial orientation or movement of the object 104. The sensor module 102may detect movement of the object 104. In one embodiment, movement ofthe object 104 is detected based on acceleration data captured by theacceleration sensor 116 of the sensor module 102. In another embodiment,movement of the object 104 is detected based on magnetic field datacaptured by the magnetic field sensor 118 of the sensor module 102. Inyet another embodiment, movement of the object 104 is detected based onboth acceleration data and magnetic field data. In some embodiments,movement of the object 104 may detected based on satellite positioningsystem data.

In one embodiment, the magnetic field sensor 118 may be adapted tomeasure the intensity and/or direction of magnetic fields in thevicinity of the sensor module 102. In another embodiment, the magneticfield sensor 118 may be adapted to measure the intensity and/ordirection of the earth's magnetic field in the vicinity of the sensormodule 102. In some embodiments, the magnetic field sensor 118 may becapable of measuring the magnitude and/or direction of a resultantmagnetic vector for the total local magnetic field and/or for the localearth's magnetic field.

If the monitored object 104 is a soccer ball, the detected movement mayconsist of the soccer ball rolling on the ground as a result of beingdribbled by the individual 100. If the monitored object 104 is the chestof an individual 100 playing basketball, the detected movement mayconsist of the individual's chest moving forward as the individualdribbles a basketball down the court.

In some embodiments, the sensor module 102 may then determine that themovement of the object 104 indicates the occurrence of a movement totrack. In one embodiment, the determination that the movement of theobject 104 indicates the occurrence of a movement to track occurs when athreshold data value is met for a predetermined period of time. Forexample, the sensor module 102 may determine that a movement of theobject 104 has resulted in a threshold acceleration and/or magneticfield change occurring for a predetermined period of time.

In some embodiments, the determination of the occurrence of a movementto track is an indication that the movement to track had already begunprior to the determination. In this case, it is still possible tocapture all of the relevant data relating to the movement as the sensormodule 102 may temporarily record a stream of data in a buffer in theevent that data that had recently been recorded may need to be examinedor more permanently recorded in response to a determination that anoccurrence of a movement to track is found. In other embodiments, thedetermination of the occurrence of a movement to track is an indicationthat the movement to track is about to begin in the near future. In someembodiments, the sensor module 102 is adapted to store data permanentlyor temporarily, and may further be adapted to store data for predefinedperiods of time in certain circumstances, such as when populating a databuffer.

If the monitored object 104 is a soccer ball, the movement of the soccerball as a result of the individual 100 swiftly kicking the ball in anattempt to make a goal may result in a determination that the motion ofthe ball in response to the kick—which could include motion of the ballbefore, during, and/or after the determination was made—should betracked. If the monitored object 104 is the chest of an individual 100playing basketball, the rotation of the individual's 100 chest throughone-hundred and eighty degrees of rotation when making an offensivemovement may result in a determination that the rotation of theindividual's chest—which could include motion of the individual's 100chest before, during, and/or after the determination was made—should betracked.

In response to the determination of the occurrence of a movement totrack, an initial spatial orientation of the object 104, which mayinclude the object's position, may be determined. In some embodiments,the determination of an initial spatial orientation of the object 104may be made by reference to a coordinate axis system.

A coordinate axis system is a useful analytical tool for monitoringchanges in the spatial orientation of an object 104. FIG. 10 illustratesan exemplary three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate axis system 300having three axes—an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis. Two vectors, “G”and “B,” are superimposed on the coordinate axis system 300 illustratedin FIG. 10. The G-vector 302 pointing in the −Y direction represents agravity vector. The B-vector 304 represents a resultant magnetic fieldvector.

FIG. 11 illustrates another exemplary three-dimensional Cartesiancoordinate axis system 350. This system 350 defines six degrees offreedom for a rigid body, such as the object 104. Six degrees of freedomrefers to motion of a rigid body in three-dimensional space, namely theability to move forward/backward, up/down, left/right (translation inthree perpendicular axes) combined with rotation about threeperpendicular axes (pitch, yaw, roll), as illustrated in FIG. 11.

In one embodiment, the determination of the initial spatial orientationof the object 104 may be made with respect to a gravity vector 302, suchas that illustrated in FIG. 10. In another embodiment, the determinationof the initial spatial orientation of the object 104 may be made withrespect to an earth magnetic field vector 304, such as that illustratedin FIG. 10. In other embodiments, the determination of the initialspatial orientation of the object 104 may be made with respect tocharacterizations of the way that the object translated and rotated inthree-dimensional space with six degrees of freedom, as explained withreference to FIG. 11.

After the determination of the initial orientation of the object 104 ata first time has been made, a change in the spatial orientation of theobject 104 may be determined. In an embodiment, the determination of thechange in the spatial orientation of the object 104 may be madesimilarly to the determination of the initial orientation of the object104, except that additional information about changes in the orientationof the gravity vector 302 and/or the magnetic field vector 304 as theobject moves may be additionally factored in.

An activity metric can be determined based on the change in the spatialorientation of the object 104 determined. The nature of the activitymetric may change based on the athletic activity that the individual 100is participating in, as well as particular object 104 that is beingmonitored. In one embodiment, the activity metric may relate to, forexample, a launch angle, a rate of rotation, a speed, a location, a jumpheight, a jump force, a jump distance, a kick force, a kick distance, acharacterization of a specific type of athletic movement, or a reactiontime measurement. In other embodiments, the activity metric may be, forexample, the rate of rotation, the plane of rotation, the jump force,force profile (force acting upon the body of the athlete or the groundor the object), stroke information in tennis, swing profile in golf,baseball, hockey stick, kick profile of a leg, angle position of a bikepedal, power output of a cyclist, fatigue (tremors starting to occur inrepeated motion, i.e., running, lifting swimming, rowing etc.), posture,throwing or arm swing technique, and shooting technique.

An output can be provided that conveys the activity metric to theindividual 100, a coach, a teammate, a spectator, or any otherinterested person. In one embodiment, the output may be an audible,visual, and/or haptic output.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the sensor module 102 maybe capable of compensating for inherent deficiencies that may be presentfor various types of sensor contained within or in communication withthe sensor module 102. Most real world sensors have limitations. Forexample, accelerometers, magnetometers, gyroscopes, and satellitepositioning system receivers may have accuracy issues, particularly whenused at speeds or under other conditions that differ from their initialcalibration conditions.

In some systems, if sensor data, such as acceleration sensor 116 ormagnetic field sensor 118 data, is temporarily lost or otherwiseunavailable, the data from the unavailable sensor is not used insubsequent processing or calculations. In other systems, lost data maybe estimated by “straight line” methods where, for example, it isassumed that the data stays constant or changes at a constant rate.However, in some embodiments of the present invention sensor data, suchas one of acceleration sensor 116 or magnetic field sensor 118 data maybe used to compensate for and/or estimate the changes in the other ofacceleration sensor 116 or magnetic field sensor 118 data based onknown, derived, or estimate correlations between the two types of data,or data extrapolation.

By combining the data produced by, for example, acceleration sensor 116and a magnetic field sensor 118, systems and methods according toembodiments of the present invention are able to more accuratelydetermine absolute data values or activity metrics even when data fromone of the acceleration sensor 116 or the magnetic field sensor 118 islost for any reason. Using the data that is not missing, the system cancontinue to provide data values or activity metrics to fill in the“holes” until the missing data is regained or otherwise again sampled.

In other embodiments of the present invention, angular momentum sensor124 data, such as gyroscope data, may be used in combination with one ormore of acceleration sensor 116 or magnetic field sensor 118 data fordata calibration and/or extrapolation.

In some embodiments of the present invention, calibration and/orgeneration of correction factor data for an acceleration sensor 116 ormagnetic field sensor 118-based sensor modules 102 may be performedunder a variety of different use conditions, e.g., calibration data orcorrection factors may be generated for use at different movementspeeds, for use with an individual's 100 body 106, with a piece ofathletic equipment 108, for use in different sports, for use underdifferent wind conditions, for use under different court or fieldconditions, etc. Moreover, this variety of correction factors and/orcalibration data may be collected, in the background, over time, as theindividual 100 continues using the system. In this manner, a “lookuptable” or other “universe” or library of calibration data or correctionfactors may be built up and stored in the monitoring system (optionallyin the portable portion of the system), such that an appropriatecorrection factor could be generated and applied for a full range ofindividual 100 or athletic equipment 108 speeds and/or other useconditions.

A microprocessor provided with the system (optionally in the portableportion of the system, in the personal computer, etc.) may be programmedto interpolate between and/or extrapolate from known calibration orcorrection factors to arrive at the most appropriate calibration orcorrection factor for use at any speed or other use condition(s). Also,in this manner, different calibration or correction factors may beapplied at different times during a single athletic performance, e.g.,based on the speed or other use conditions determined at a given timeduring the performance, to further help improve the overall accuracy ofthe speed and distance monitor. By having a variety of correction orcalibration factors available under different performance conditions,the sensor module 102 will tend to become more accurate, particularlyover time and with increased use, because of the increased number ofcalibration and correction factors generated with increased use.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the sensor module 102 may beaffected by perturbations in local magnetic fields, such as the earth'smagnetic field. The local magnetic field may be more variable at certaindistances near the surface of the earth than at other distances furtheraway from the earth. For example, the local magnetic field may be morevariable or perturbed within approximately three feet of the surface ofthe earth than at more than approximately three feet away from thesurface of the earth. Accordingly, in some embodiments, magnetic fieldsensor 118 data obtained from an object 104 when the object 104 is morethan approximately three feet away from the surface of the earth may beused to extrapolate or otherwise estimate proper or likely magneticfield sensor 118 data from when the object 104 was within approximatelythree feet of the surface of the earth, if the magnetic field sensor 118data from when the object 104 was within approximately three feet of thesurface of the earth is otherwise deemed to be unreliable due to therelatively high variability in local magnetic fields, such as theearth's magnetic field, near the surface of the earth.

In some embodiments, sensor module 102 of monitoring system 10 can bemounted to an individual 100. In some embodiments, multiple sensormodules 102 can be mounted to individual 100 (e.g., one sensor modulehaving axes at one or more oblique angles to another sensor module). Insome embodiments, sensor modules 102 may be mounted to individual 100 atdifferent locations (e.g., on the trunk of individual 100, on one ormore appendages of individual 100). For example, individual 100 may bean athlete performing an athletic activity. Monitoring system 10including sensor module 102 mounted to individual 100 is referred to asmonitoring system 30. Sensor module 102 can be mounted to individual 100using any suitable technique. For example, sensor module 102 may be wornby individual 100 by being coupled to an exterior or interior ofindividual 100, by being mounted to individual 100 using a harnesssystem worn by individual 100, by being carried in a pocket of a garmentworn by individual 100, by being affixed to the skin of individual 100(e.g., using adhesive), by being carried by an article of equipmentcarried or worn by individual 100 (e.g., a helmet, a mouth guard, a jockstrap, a protective pad, an article of footwear), or by being insertedwithin the body of individual 100 (e.g., surgically, orally). Exemplarytechniques that can be employed to mount sensor module 102 to individual100 are described in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/077,520, filed Mar. 31, 2011, whose disclosure is incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety.

In some embodiments, sensor module 102 can be activated (i.e., enter anactive state) in response to sensing an activation motion or movement ofindividual 100 (the terms “motion” and “movement” are usedinterchangeably herein). In some embodiments, the activation motion maybe, for example, jumping above a predetermined height, jumping apredetermined number of times in within a predetermined period, walkinga predetermined number of steps. In some embodiments, the activationmotion may be, for example, a sequence of motions (e.g., motion inresponse to three jumps performed in quick succession, or within apredetermined time period such as, for example, 3 seconds). Uponactivation, sensor module 102 begins to store (e.g., in memory 114)and/or transfer sensed data to a remote device, as described herein. Insome embodiments, in an active state, sensor module 102 may continuouslysense data (e.g., acceleration data (data representative ofacceleration) is determined by acceleration sensor 116 of sensor module102, and magnetic field data (data representative of a magnetic field)is determined by magnetic field sensor 118 of sensor module 102). Insome embodiments, data is sensed by sensor module 102 periodically(e.g., every 50 milliseconds (ms), every 10 ms, every 1 ms).

In some embodiments, sensor module 102 can be deactivated (e.g., enter alow-power standby state, detecting acceleration at a low frequencyrelative to the active state) in response to sensing no motion of sensormodule 102 for a predetermined period of time (e.g., 30 minutes). Insome embodiments, sensor module 102 can be deactivated in response tosensing a deactivation motion individual 100. In some embodiments, thedeactivation motion may be, for example, any of the motions describedabove as an activation motion. In some embodiments, a deactivationmotion may be the same as an activation motion. In some embodiments, adeactivation motion may be different from an activation motion.

In some embodiments, data sensed by sensor module 102 may betime-correlated (e.g., stored in association with time data representingthe time at which the data was sensed). The time at which data is sensedcan be provided via timer 134. In operation, sensor module 102 ofmonitoring system 30 senses and processes signals as described herein tooutput representations of activity metrics of individual 100. In someembodiments, representations of activity metrics can be output to, forexample, a display device (e.g., a display of personal computer 204,portable electronic device 206, or sensor module 102). Sensor module 102can be powered by any suitable technique, including those describedherein.

In some embodiments, monitoring system 30 including sensor module 102mounted to individual 100 can be used to determine a variety of activitymetrics about individual 100, including characteristics relating tomotion of individual 100. For example, monitoring system 30 can be usedto identify a motion characteristic of individual 100 (e.g., position ofindividual 100 or a portion thereof, orientation of individual 100 or aportion thereof, orientation and/or magnitude of speed of individual 100or a portion thereof, orientation and/or magnitude of acceleration ofindividual 100 or a portion thereof, orientation and/or magnitude offorces applied to individual 100 or a portion thereof, duration ofmovement of individual 100 or a portion thereof, posture of individual100 or a portion thereof, and/or rotation of individual 100 or a portionthereof); to identify a motion made by individual 100; to determine ajump characteristic of individual 100 (e.g., maximum jump height, jumpforce); or to determine reaction time of individual 100 (e.g., time toperform an instructed motion after being instructed, or time to reach atarget, for example, to reach maximum speed, to reach a fully erectposition from a crouch, to dive from an upright position). In someembodiments, monitoring system 30 can be used to define a motion. Forexample, monitoring system 30 can be used to define a motion made byindividual 100 in terms of data sensed by sensor module 102 duringperformance of the motion. Monitoring system 30 can perform operationsas described herein to determine such activity metrics using anysuitable components. For example, sensing operations, as described, maybe carried out by a sensor of sensor module 102 of monitoring system 30(e.g., acceleration sensor 116 or magnetic field sensor 118, asappropriate). Also for example, operations involving processing of data(e.g., identifying, determining, calculating, storing) may be carriedout by processor 110 of sensor module 102, or by a processor of anyother device of or in communication with monitoring system 30 (e.g.,server 202, personal computer 204, or portable electronic device 206).

In some embodiments, calibration data is sensed by sensor module 102when individual 100 (or at least sensor module 102) is in a calibrationstate. In some embodiments, sensor module 102 is in a calibration statewhen sensor module 102 is stationary (e.g., with respect to an externalcoordinate system (i.e., a coordinate system independent of sensormodule 102), such as, for example, coordinate system 600 (depicted inFIG. 12), for a period of time (e.g., 10 ms or longer)). In someembodiments, sensor module 102 can be considered stationary when sensormodule 102 senses resultant acceleration of about 1G (i.e., resultantacceleration within a threshold tolerance of 1G, for example, within 5%of 1G). In some embodiments sensor module 102 can be consideredstationary at times while individual is performing a movement. Forexample, sensor module 102 can be stationary for a period of time withina period of time in which a basketball player jumps (e.g., a period oftime connecting spanning the transition from downward motion ofindividual 100 while bending to initiation the jump, to upward motion ofindividual 100 to begin launch of the jump, sensor module 102 can beconsidered stationary, where resultant acceleration sensed by sensormodule 102 is about 1G). Also for example, sensor module 102 can bestationary due to its location on individual 100, though individual 100is performing a motion (e.g., a sensor module 102 connected to the footof individual 100 may be considered stationary each time the foot isplanted during a running movement of individual 100, where resultantacceleration sensed by sensor module 102 is about 1G).

Sensor module 102 is depicted in the calibration state in FIG. 12.Sensor module 102 may be in the calibration state at any point relativeto an athletic activity (e.g., before, during, or after an athleticactivity). In some embodiments, sensor module 102 is determined to be ina calibration state, and calibration data can be sensed, each timesensor module 102 is stationary. In some embodiments, sensor module 102is determined to be in a calibration state, and calibration data can besensed, each time sensor module 102 is stationary for more than athreshold duration (e.g., 1 second) where calibration data has not beensensed for a threshold duration (e.g., 1 minute, 10 minutes, 30minutes).

In some embodiments, in the calibration state acceleration sensor 116 ofsensor module 102 senses acceleration data. In some embodiments magneticfield sensor 118 of sensor module 102 senses magnetic field data (e.g.,data relating to the magnetic field of the earth). In some embodiments,calibration data includes both acceleration data and magnetic fielddata. In some embodiments, calibration data includes one of accelerationdata and magnetic field data.

In some embodiments, in the calibration state, the acceleration datasensed by acceleration sensor 116 of sensor module 102 is accelerationdue to gravity, which can be used by monitoring system 30 to determineone or both of orientation of acceleration due to gravity with respectto sensor module 102 and magnitude of acceleration due to gravity atsensor module 102 (together, gravity vector 302).

In some embodiments, in the calibration state, magnetic field sensor 118of sensor module 102 senses one or both of orientation of a magneticfield with respect to sensor module 102 and magnitude of the magneticfield at sensor module 102 (together, magnetic field vector 304).

In some embodiments sensor module 102 senses calibration data that is tobe relied upon for one or more subsequent calculations. In someembodiments the calibration data sensed when sensor module 102 is in thecalibration state can be used to establish external coordinate system600. In some embodiments external coordinate system 600 can beestablished by reference to the orientation of gravity vector 302 (e.g.,to establish the direction of “down,” since gravity is known to causedownward acceleration). In some embodiments external coordinate system600 can be established by reference to the orientation of magnetic fieldvector 304 (e.g., to establish a constant reference direction, since themagnetic field will typically be appreciably constant over the area of atypical play area for an athletic activity). In some embodimentsexternal coordinate system 600 can be established by reference to theorientation of gravity vector 302 and the orientation of magnetic fieldvector 304.

During motion, individual 100 (and sensor module 102) may move in any orall of six degrees of freedom—three linear degrees: (1) up/down (e.g.,along the Y axis in external coordinate system 600), (2) left/right(e.g., along the X axis in external coordinate system 600), and (3)backward/forward (e.g., along the Z axis in external coordinate system600); and three rotational degrees: (1) yaw (e.g., in the angular αdirection in external coordinate system 600), (2) roll (e.g., in theangular β direction in external coordinate system 600), and (3) pitch(e.g., in the angular γ direction in external coordinate system 600).

Individual 100 or other person may desire to know activity metrics ofindividual 100, for example, to learn the effects of actions ofindividual 100. Monitoring system 30 may determine such activity metrics(e.g., identification of forces acting on or applied by individual 100,identification of a motion made by individual 100, determination of ajump characteristic of individual 100, and determination of a reactiontime of individual 100). Sensor module 102 may output datarepresentative of such activity metrics (e.g., to a display device ofpersonal computer 204 or portable electronic device 206). Such data maybe outputted from sensor module 102 in raw form (e.g., unprocessedsignals from acceleration sensor 116 and/or magnetic field sensor 118)or in representative form (e.g., data that results from processingsignals from acceleration sensor 116 and/or magnetic field sensor 118).In some embodiments monitoring system 30 outputs a representation of oneor more activity metrics in a manner perceivable by individual 100and/or other person.

Data representative of such activity metrics can be processed and/oroutput in any suitable manner, such as, for example, those describedherein.

In some embodiments movement data profiles (i.e., one or more of sensedacceleration data and magnetic field data that define a movement) forone or more movements may be stored within or otherwise accessible bymonitoring system 30 such that monitoring system 30 can compare sensedacceleration data and magnetic field data with the movement dataprofiles.

In some embodiments, monitoring system 30 may compare sensedacceleration data and magnetic field data of individual 100 with one ormore movement data profiles. In some embodiments, monitoring system 30may perform such comparison continuously.

In some embodiments, upon determining a sufficient degree ofcorrespondence between the sensed acceleration data and magnetic fielddata and a movement data profile or portion thereof, monitoring system30 identifies the motion corresponding to that movement data profile asthe movement performed by individual 100. In some embodiments, asufficient degree of correspondence is determined where the differencebetween the sensed acceleration data and magnetic field data and themovement data profile is less than a predetermined threshold (thethreshold may be different for different movement data profiles).

In some embodiments, movement data profiles can include expressions ofacceleration data and magnetic field data, and variables derivedtherefrom (e.g., force, acceleration magnitude, accelerationorientation, magnetic field magnitude, magnetic field orientation), andcan be expressed and/or stored as data structures within monitoringsystem 30, for example, as an algorithm, as a graphical curve, or as alookup table.

In some embodiments, representations of activity metrics can bepresented as functions of one another, or of other variables. Forexample, jump height can be presented as a function of trunkorientation, or of launch angle of a ball. Also for example, activitymetrics can be presented as a function of location (e.g., location on aplaying field, proximity to a player, proximity to a goal), as afunction of an event (e.g., scoring of a field goal, committing a foul),as a function of an environmental condition (e.g., ambient temperature,precipitation), or as a function of a physiological condition of anindividual (e.g., heart rate, body temperature). Information relating tosuch variables (e.g., location information, event information,environmental condition information, and physiological conditioninformation) may be provided to monitoring system 30 from appropriatesensors incorporated therein, or from elements outside of monitoringsystem 30 that are in communication with monitoring system 30.

In some embodiments, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, an externalcoordinate system (e.g., external coordinate system 600) is determinedat a first time, where sensor module 102 is in a calibration state atthe first time. In some embodiments the orientation of an internalcoordinate system fixed with reference to sensor module 102 (e.g.,internal coordinate system 650) is determined relative to externalcoordinate system. For ease of description, internal coordinate system650 is described herein to align with external coordinate system 600 atthe first time, but it should be understood that internal coordinatesystem 650 need not align with external coordinate system 600 (e.g.,internal coordinate system 650 may be established by an angular offsetfrom external coordinate system 600), and that internal coordinatesystem 600 need not be characterized by traditional coordinatecomponents, but may be characterized simply by some referenceestablishing the relative orientation of sensor module 102 with respectto the external coordinate system (e.g., external coordinate system600). Components of internal coordinate system 650 are designated in thefigures as X′ (e.g., left/right), Y′ (e.g., up/down), Z′ (e.g.,backward/forward), α′ (e.g., yaw), β′ (e.g., roll), and γ (e.g., pitch),and changes in the coordinate components are designated as ΔX, ΔY, ΔZ,Δα, Δβ, and Δγ, respectively (see, e.g., FIG. 13).

For example, as depicted in FIG. 12, in some embodiments accelerationsensor 116 is used to determine the orientation of gravity vector 302with respect to sensor module 102 (i.e., with respect to internalcoordinate system 650) at the first time, and in some embodimentsmagnetic field sensor 118 is used to determine the orientation ofmagnetic field vector 304 with respect to sensor module 102 at the firsttime. In some embodiments, the orientation of internal coordinate system650 with respect to external coordinate system 600 can be determinedbased on one or both of gravity vector 302 and magnetic field vector304. In this way an initial orientation of individual 100 can bedetermined based on the initial orientation of sensor module 102(including internal coordinate system 650) within external coordinatesystem 600.

In some embodiments, monitoring device 30 determines and/or outputs oneor more sensed motion characteristics of individual 100, including, forexample, position of individual 100 or a portion thereof, orientation ofindividual 100 or a portion thereof, orientation and/or magnitude ofspeed of individual 100 or a portion thereof, orientation and/ormagnitude of acceleration of individual 100 or a portion thereof,orientation and/or magnitude of forces applied to individual 100 or aportion thereof, duration of movement of individual 100 or a portionthereof, posture of individual 100 or a portion thereof, rotation ofindividual 100 or a portion thereof, and/or a degree of correspondenceto a movement data profile, or changes therein.

In some embodiments, for example (see FIG. 13), rotation (e.g.,three-dimensional rotation) of individual 100 (including, for example,rotation of individual 100 as a whole or of one or more monitoredportions of individual 100, recognizing that portions of individual 100may move relative to each other) can be determined between the firsttime and a second time, where individual is in motion at the secondtime. In some embodiments, such rotation can be output by monitoringsystem 30 and/or used by monitoring system 30 for further operations.

For example, in some embodiments the change in orientation of individual100 between the first time and the second time is determined based onmagnetic field data sensed by magnetic field sensor 118 from the firsttime to the second time. For example, the change in orientation ofindividual 100 between the first time and the second time may beexpressed by the angular difference of axes X′, Y′, and Z′ between thefirst time and the second time with respect to external coordinatesystem 600 (depicted as Δα, Δβ, and Δγ).

In some embodiments, for example (see FIG. 13), the change in positionof individual 100 between the first time and the second time isdetermined based on acceleration data sensed by acceleration sensor 116from the first time to the second time. In some embodiments, such changein position can be output by monitoring system 30 and/or used bymonitoring system 30 for further operations.

For example, the change in position of individual 100 between the firsttime and the second time may be expressed by the linear difference inposition of sensor module 102 along of axes X, Y, and Z between thefirst time and the second time with respect to external coordinatesystem 600 (depicted as ΔX, ΔY, and ΔZ).

As described, individual's 100 motion between two points in time can becharacterized by change in position and change in orientation of sensormodule 102 between the two points in time. In some embodiments, a morecomplete representation of individual's 100 motion can be characterizedby monitoring change in position and change in orientation of sensormodule 102 between multiple sequential points in time. In other words,the technique described above for characterizing individual's 100 motionbetween two points can be repeated from the second time to a third time.Change in position and change in orientation can be measured absolutely(e.g., with continuing reference to the position and orientation ofsensor module at the first time (which may be a calibration state), orrelatively (e.g., with reference to the immediately preceding positionand orientation, or any other sensed position and orientation). As willbe appreciated, the greater the rate of sampling of position andorientation, the more complete the representation of individual's 100motion will be. In some embodiments, where change in position and changein orientation is measured relatively, sensor module 102 may not becalibrated with respect to an external coordinate system.

In some embodiments, as noted above, sensor module 102 of monitoringsystem 10 can be mounted in an object 104, which can be a piece ofathletic equipment 108 such as, for example, ball 500. In someembodiments, multiple sensor modules 102 can be mounted in ball 500(e.g., one sensor module having axes at one or more oblique angles toanother sensor module). Ball 500 may be any ball, such as, for example,a ball typically used in an athletic activity, such as, for example, asoccer ball, a basketball, a baseball, an American football, a rugbyball, a tennis ball, a table tennis ball, a bowling ball, a golf ball, abilliards ball, a croquet ball, a marble, a tetherball, or a beach ball.Monitoring system 10 including sensor module 102 mounted to ball 500 isreferred to as monitoring system 20. Sensor module 102 can be mounted toball 500 using any suitable technique. For example, sensor module 102may be affixed to an exterior or interior surface of ball 500, may bemounted within ball 500 using a harness system (e.g., suspended awayfrom an inner wall of ball 500, for example at the center of ball 500),or may be embedded in a material of ball 500. Exemplary techniques thatcan be employed to mount sensor module 102 to ball 500 are disclosed incommonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,740,551, filed Nov. 18, 2009, whosedisclosure is incorporated herein by reference thereto in its entirety.

In some embodiments, sensor module 102 can be activated (i.e., enter anactive state) in response to sensing an activation motion of ball 500.In some embodiments, the activation motion may be, for example, motionin response to a kick of ball 500 (e.g., an acceleration impulse sensedabove a threshold, or a drop in sensed acceleration to near zero). Insome embodiments, the activation motion may be, for example, a kick ofthrow resulting in travel by ball 500 of at least a threshold distanceor height (e.g., 2 meters) (e.g., an acceleration sensed to correspondto such motion). In some embodiments, the activation motion may be, forexample, a sequence of motions (e.g., motion in response to a kick ofball 500 followed by travel by ball 500 of at least a threshold distanceor height). Upon activation, sensor module 102 begins to store (e.g., inmemory 114) and/or transfer sensed data to a remote device, as describedherein. In some embodiments, in an active state, sensor module 102 maycontinuously sense data (e.g., acceleration data (data representative ofacceleration) is determined by acceleration sensor 116 of sensor module102 and magnetic field data (data representative of a magnetic field) isdetermined by magnetic field sensor 118 of sensor module 102). In someembodiments, data is sensed by sensor module 102 periodically (e.g.,every 50 milliseconds (ms), every 10 ms, every 1 ms).

In some embodiments, sensor module 102 can be deactivated (e.g., enter alow-power standby state, detecting acceleration at a low frequencyrelative to the active state) in response to sensing no motion of sensormodule 102 for a predetermined period of time (e.g., 30 minutes). Insome embodiments, sensor module 102 can be deactivated in response tosensing a deactivation motion of ball 500. In some embodiments, thedeactivation motion may be, for example, any of the motions describedabove as an activation motion. In some embodiments, a deactivationmotion may be the same as an activation motion. In some embodiments, adeactivation motion may be different from an activation motion.

In some embodiments, data sensed by sensor module 102 may betime-correlated (e.g., stored in association with time data representingthe time at which the data was sensed). The time at which data is sensedcan be provided via timer 134. In operation, sensor module 102 ofmonitoring system 20 senses and processes signals as described herein tooutput representations of activity metrics of ball 500. In someembodiments, representations of activity metrics can be output to, forexample, a display device (e.g., a display of personal computer 204,portable electronic device 206, or sensor module 102).

Sensor module 102 can be powered by any suitable technique, includingthose described herein. For example, sensor module 102 can be powered bycharging via a charging base 502 (see, e.g., FIG. 14). For example,power source 112 of sensor module 102 may be powered by inductivecharging, in which case an inductive coil may be mounted in ball 500 andcoupled to power source 112 of sensor module 102. In some embodimentsthe inductive coil may receive power from an inductive charging device(e.g., charging base 502) when ball 500 is placed so that the inductivecoil is sufficiently close to an inductive coil charging device. In someembodiments, ball 500 has exterior markings (e.g., marking 504) toindicate the location of the inductive coil, to facilitate optimumorientation of ball 500 (i.e., the orientation having the inductive coilclosest to the inductive coil charging device). In some embodiments,sensor module 102 is coupled to a visual indicator, such as, forexample, an externally-visible light emitting diode (LED) that gives anindication (e.g., LED emits light, light emitted by LED changes color,speed of LED blinking changes) of the strength of charge being receivedthrough the inductive coil, to facilitate optimum orientation of ball500.

In some embodiments, monitoring system 20 including sensor module 102mounted in ball 500 can be used to determine a variety of activitymetrics about ball 500 (and/or an individual 100 interacting with ball500), including characteristics relating to motion of ball 500. Forexample, monitoring system 20 can be used to determine location of ball500, trajectory of ball 500, launch angle of ball 500, rotation rate ofball 500, orientation of rotation plane of ball 500, orientation ofrotation axis of ball 500, travel speed of ball 500, launch speed ofball 500, force of a kick or other impact on ball 500, distance oftravel of ball 500, and maximum acceleration of ball 500. Monitoringsystem 20 can perform operations as described herein to determine suchactivity metrics using any suitable components. For example, sensingoperations, as described, may be carried out by a sensor of sensormodule 102 of monitoring system 20 (e.g., acceleration sensor 116 ormagnetic field sensor 118, as appropriate). Also for example, operationsinvolving processing of data (e.g., identifying, determining,calculating, storing) may be carried out by processor 110 of sensormodule 102, or by a processor of any other device of or in communicationwith monitoring system 20 (e.g., server 202, personal computer 204, orportable electronic device 206).

In some embodiments, calibration data is sensed by sensor module 102when ball 500 is in a calibration state. In some embodiments, ball 500is in a calibration state when ball 500 is stationary (e.g., withrespect to an external coordinate system (i.e., a coordinate systemindependent of sensor module 102), such as, for example, coordinatesystem 600 (depicted in FIG. 15), for a period of time (e.g., 10 ms orlonger)). In some embodiments, ball 500 can be considered stationarywhen sensor module 102 of ball 500 senses resultant acceleration ofabout 1G (i.e., resultant acceleration within a threshold tolerance of1G, for example, within 5% of 1G). In some embodiments ball 500 can beconsidered stationary at times while being handled by an individual. Forexample, ball 500 can be stationary for a period of time within a periodof time in which a basketball player takes a jump shot with ball 500(e.g., before release of ball 500 from the hands of the individual, ball500 can be considered stationary, where resultant acceleration sensed bysensor module 102 is about 1G). Also for example, ball 500 can bestationary for a period of time within a period of time in which abaseball player performs a throw of ball 500 (e.g., a period of timespanning the transition from rearward motion to forward motion of theindividual's throwing motion, where resultant acceleration sensed bysensor module 102 is about 1G).

Ball 500 (including sensor module 102) is depicted in the calibrationstate at time t₀₀ in FIG. 16. Ball 500 may be in the calibration stateat any point relative to an athletic activity (e.g., before, during, orafter an athletic activity). In some embodiments, ball 500 is determinedto be in a calibration state, and calibration data can be sensed, eachtime ball 500 is stationary for more than a threshold duration (e.g., 1second). In some embodiments, ball 500 is determined to be in acalibration state, and calibration data can be sensed, each time ball500 is stationary.

In some embodiments, in the calibration state acceleration sensor 116 ofsensor module 102 senses acceleration data. In some embodiments magneticfield sensor 118 of sensor module 102 senses magnetic field data (e.g.,data relating to the magnetic field of the earth). In some embodiments,calibration data includes both acceleration data and magnetic fielddata. In some embodiments, calibration data includes one of accelerationdata and magnetic field data.

In some embodiments, in the calibration state, the acceleration datasensed by acceleration sensor 116 of sensor module 102 is accelerationdue to gravity, which can be used by monitoring system 20 to determineone or both of orientation of acceleration due to gravity with respectto sensor module 102 and magnitude of acceleration due to gravity atsensor module 102 (together, gravity vector 302).

In some embodiments, in the calibration state, magnetic field sensor 118of sensor module 102 senses one or both of orientation of a magneticfield with respect to sensor module 102 and magnitude of the magneticfield at sensor module 102 (together, magnetic field vector 304).

In some embodiments sensor module 102 senses calibration data that is tobe relied upon for one or more subsequent calculations. In someembodiments the calibration data sensed when sensor module 102 is in thecalibration state can be used to establish external coordinate system600. In some embodiments external coordinate system 600 can beestablished by reference to the orientation of gravity vector 302 (e.g.,to establish the direction of “down,” since gravity is known to causedownward acceleration). In some embodiments external coordinate system600 can be established by reference to the orientation of magnetic fieldvector 304 (e.g., to establish a constant reference direction, since themagnetic field will typically be appreciably constant over the area of atypical play area for an athletic activity). In some embodimentsexternal coordinate system 600 can be established by reference to theorientation of gravity vector 302 and the orientation of magnetic fieldvector 304.

During motion of ball 500 (e.g., after ball 500 is kicked or hit) ball500 may move in any or all of six degrees of freedom—three lineardegrees: (1) up/down (e.g., along the Y axis in external coordinatesystem 600), (2) left/right (e.g., along the X axis in externalcoordinate system 600), and (3) backward/forward (e.g., along the Z axisin external coordinate system 600); and three rotational degrees: (1)yaw (e.g., in the angular α direction in external coordinate system600), (2) roll (e.g., in the angular β direction in external coordinatesystem 600), and (3) pitch (e.g., in the angular γ direction in externalcoordinate system 600).

Individual 100 or other person may desire to know activity metrics ofball 500, for example, to learn the effects that actions of individual100 have on ball 500 (e.g., a kick or throw of ball 500 by individual100). Monitoring system 20 may determine such activity metrics (e.g.,location of ball 500, trajectory of ball 500, launch angle of ball 500,rotation rate of ball 500, orientation of rotation plane of ball 500,orientation of rotation axis of ball 500, travel speed of ball 500,launch speed of ball 500, force of a kick or other impact on ball 500,distance of travel of ball 500, and maximum acceleration of ball 500).Sensor module 102 may output data representative of such activitymetrics (e.g., to a display device of personal computer 204 or portableelectronic device 206). Such data may be outputted from sensor module102 in raw form (e.g., unprocessed signals from acceleration sensor 116and/or magnetic field sensor 118) or in representative form (e.g., datathat results from processing signals from acceleration sensor 116 and/ormagnetic field sensor 118). In some embodiments monitoring system 20outputs a representation of one or more activity metrics in a mannerperceivable by individual 100 and/or other person.

Data representative of such activity metrics can be processed and/oroutput in any suitable manner, such as, for example, those describedherein.

As noted herein, in some embodiments monitoring system 20 can determineand/or output a representation of instantaneous trajectory 606 of ball500 over a period of time or at a particular point in time (theinstantaneous trajectory being a representation of the direction ofmotion of ball 500 in motion). In some embodiments monitoring system 20can determine and/or output a representation of the location of ball500. In some embodiments monitoring system 20 can determine and/oroutput a representation of launch angle 604 of ball 500. In someembodiments launch angle 604 can be determined to correspond toinstantaneous trajectory 606 of ball 500 at a point in time sufficientlyclose to initiation of motion of ball 500 (e.g., shortly after ball 500has been kicked or hit). In some embodiments initiation of motion ofball 500 is determined based on a sensed impulse acceleration exceedinga threshold. In some embodiments, launch angle 604 can be determined tocorrespond to instantaneous trajectory 606 of ball 500 less than 150 ms(e.g., 100 ms to 150 ms) after initiation of motion of ball 500. In someembodiments, launch angle 604 can be determined to correspond toinstantaneous trajectory 606 of ball 500 at the earliest time afterinitiation of motion of ball 500 at which acceleration magnitude can besensed. In some embodiments, this time may immediately follow a periodof less reliable data output by acceleration sensor 116 (where such dataoutput is less reliable than data output by acceleration sensor 116 atother times). Such less reliable data output may be the result of, forexample, a disturbance (e.g., railing) in sensed acceleration data(e.g., due to sudden change in acceleration, for example, upon animpact) or gain saturation of the acceleration sensor signal (e.g., aperiod during which the acceleration sensor outputs its maximumacceleration signal, because acceleration is higher than the maximumacceleration it can sense), which may result from, for example, the highinitial acceleration of ball 500 in reaction to an impact (e.g., a kick,a throw, a shot). In some embodiments, such less reliable accelerationdata output may be experienced for a time (e.g., 100-150 ms) afterimpact of a kick (e.g., about 10 ms for the duration of kick impact, andabout 90 ms to 140 ms after impact).

Launch angle 604 can correspond to instantaneous trajectory 606 as theangle of the vertical component of the direction of travel of ball 500in free flight sufficiently close to initiation of motion of ball 500.In some embodiments, free flight is determined based on accelerationdata. Immediately upon entering free flight (e.g., upon ball 500 beingthrown or kicked), acceleration data sensed by acceleration sensor 116shows resultant acceleration of less than 1G (i.e., less than theacceleration due to gravity). For example, resultant acceleration maydrop from 1G (e.g., in a stationary or non-free flight state) to 0.5G(e.g., in free flight). The time at which this drop takes place can bedetermined as the initiation of free flight. Continued free flight canbe determined while resultant acceleration remains below 1G. In someembodiments, the magnitude of acceleration due to gravity can bepredefined, or can be determined based on acceleration data sensed whileball 500 is stationary (e.g., in a calibration state).

The closer to initiation of motion that the angle of the verticalcomponent of the direction of travel of ball 500 in free flight isdetermined, the more representative of launch angle it may be. Beyondinitiation of motion, the angle of the vertical component of thedirection of travel of ball 500 in free flight may change (e.g.,decrease). In some embodiments, this change can be compensated for usinga formula based on the instantaneous trajectory, speed (see below), andtime (after initiation of motion), to increase the accuracy of thelaunch angle determination. In some embodiments, the path of ball 500during a period of gain saturation (i.e., while the acceleration sensoris railed) can be determined based on magnetic field data sensed duringthat time. In some embodiments the launch angle at the moment of impactcan be determined based on this path.

In some embodiments, instantaneous trajectory 606 (and/or launch angle604) of ball 500 can be determined based on one or more of accelerationdata and magnetic field data (e.g., sensed by acceleration sensor 116and/or magnetic field sensor 118) at a first, earlier time, and one ormore of acceleration data and magnetic field data (e.g., sensed byacceleration sensor 116 and magnetic field sensor 118) at a second,later time. In some embodiments, at the first time ball 500 isstationary (e.g., in a calibration state), and at the second time ball500 is in motion (e.g., motion of ball 500 is initiated between thefirst time and the second time).

In some embodiments, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, an externalcoordinate system (e.g., external coordinate system 600) is determinedat a first time, where ball 500 is in a calibration state at the firsttime. In some embodiments the orientation of an internal coordinatesystem fixed with reference to sensor module 102 (e.g., internalcoordinate system 650) is determined relative to external coordinatesystem 600. For ease of description, internal coordinate system 650 isdescribed herein to align with external coordinate system 600 at thefirst time, but it should be understood that internal coordinate system650 need not align with external coordinate system 600 (e.g., internalcoordinate system 650 may be established by an angular offset fromexternal coordinate system 600), and that internal coordinate system 600need not be characterized by traditional coordinate components, but maybe characterized simply by some reference establishing the relativeorientation of sensor module 102 with respect to the external coordinatesystem (e.g., external coordinate system 600). Components of internalcoordinate system 650 are designated in the figures as X′ (e.g.,left/right), Y′ (e.g., up/down), Z′ (e.g., backward/forward), α′ (e.g.,yaw), β′ (e.g., roll), and γ (e.g., pitch), and changes in thecoordinate components are designated as ΔX, ΔY, ΔZ, Δα, Δβ, and Δγ,respectively (see, e.g., FIG. 16).

For example, as depicted in, FIG. 15, in some embodiments accelerationsensor 116 is used to determine the orientation of gravity vector 302with respect to sensor module 102 (i.e., with respect to internalcoordinate system 650) at the first time, and in some embodimentsmagnetic field sensor 118 is used to determine the orientation ofmagnetic field vector 304 with respect to sensor module 102 at the firsttime. In some embodiments, the orientation of internal coordinate system650 with respect to external coordinate system 600 can be determinedbased on one or both of gravity vector 302 and magnetic field vector304. In this way an initial orientation of ball 500 can be determinedbased on the initial orientation of sensor module 102 (includinginternal coordinate system 650) within external coordinate system 600.

In some embodiments, for example, see FIG. 16, rotation (e.g.,three-dimensional rotation) of ball 500 is sensed and measured betweenthe first time and a second time, where ball 500 is in motion at thesecond time (e.g., shortly after motion is initiated, such as, forexample, 100 ms after motion is detected). In some embodiments, suchrotation can be output by monitoring system 20 and/or used by monitoringsystem 20 for further operations.

For example, in some embodiments the change in orientation of ball 500between the first time and the second time is determined based onmagnetic field data sensed by magnetic field sensor 118 from the firsttime to the second time. For example, the change in orientation of ball500 between the first time and the second time may be expressed by theangular difference of axes X′, Y′, and Z′ between the first time and thesecond time with respect to external coordinate system 600 (depicted asΔα, Δβ, and Δγ).

Also for example, in some embodiments the change in position of ball 500between the first time and the second time can be determined based onacceleration data sensed by acceleration sensor 116 and/or magneticfield data sensed by magnetic field sensor 118 from the first time tothe second time. In some embodiments, such change in position can beoutput by monitoring system 20 and/or used by monitoring system 20 forfurther operations.

For example, the change in position of ball 500 between the first timeand the second time may be expressed by the linear difference inposition of sensor module 102 along of axes X, Y, and Z between thefirst time and the second time with respect to external coordinatesystem 600 (depicted as ΔX, ΔY, and ΔZ).

In some embodiments, at the second time acceleration sensor 116 ofsensor module 102 senses one or both of orientation of acceleration(i.e., the acceleration direction) of sensor module 102 (and thus ball500) with respect to sensor 102 and magnitude of acceleration of sensormodule 102 (together, a resultant acceleration vector 602). In someembodiments, the acceleration sensed by sensor module 102 issubstantially entirely due to the effects of drag (i.e., decelerationdue to a drag force) on ball 500. (In some embodiments accelerationsensor 116 is an inertial system, and thus does not sense accelerationdue to gravity when in free flight.)

In some embodiments, a plurality of individuals 100 may be monitored.For example, a plurality of individuals 100 may be monitored via aplurality of sensor modules 102 by a plurality of monitoring systems 30,or a plurality of individuals 100 may be monitored via a plurality ofsensor modules 102 by the same monitoring system 30. Such individuals100 may be monitored in any manner desired, for example, simultaneously,at different times, while participating in different athleticactivities, while participating in the same athletic activity. Activitymetrics derived from each of the plurality of individuals and activitymetrics can be similarly compared, combined, and/or represented asdescribed above. Such comparison, combination, and/or representationscan be made based on each individual considered separately, on a subsetof individuals grouped together (e.g., a team, midfielders of a team),or on all monitored individuals. In a game setting, such comparison,combination, and/or representations can be correlated to game events,such as a goal, a ball traveling out-of-bounds, a penalty kick, or ajump ball, which can be output in relation to contemporaneous activitymetrics of individual(s) 100 as described.

Such comparing, combining, and/or representing data derived frommonitoring individual(s) 100 and/or monitored objects can providebenefits to, for example, the individuals participating in an athleticactivity, coaches, spectators, physicians, and game officials. Suchpersons may interact or work together during a session of athleticactivity for a variety of reasons.

For example, it may be desired that a coach monitors the performance ofthe monitored individual(s) 100 and makes recommendations or otherwiseinfluences their performance in order to maximize fitness level ofindividual(s) 100. Alternatively or additionally, it may be desired thatthe coach monitors and influences individual(s) 100 to help maximize theeffectiveness of individual(s) 100 in the athletic activity. Further, itmay be desired that the coach monitors and influences individual(s) 100to help maximize the probability of success in the athletic activity(where success may be, for example, defeating an opposing team in agame, such as, for example, soccer, or achieving/maintaining a desiredlevel of fitness for one or more individual(s) 100 participating in theathletic activity). A session of athletic activity may include, forexample, a training session (e.g., a field session, a gym session, atrack session) or a competitive session (e.g., a soccer match or abasketball game).

In some exemplary embodiments, the coach may monitor one or moreindividual(s) 100 and/or monitored objects and may provide feedback toindividual(s) 100 in order to track and maintain or improve the health,safety, and/or performance of individual(s) 100.

The coach must consider these and other goals, monitor the activity ofindividual(s) 100 and/or monitored objects, and make decisions toinfluence the performance of individual(s) 100 both individually and asa group. In doing so, the coach depends on information aboutindividual(s) 100 and their performance while participating in a sessionof athletic activity. A monitoring system (e.g., monitoring system 30)that provides data about individual(s) 100 (and/or monitored objectsinteracted with by the individuals) can provide the coach witheasy-to-understand information about individuals participating in theathletic activity, beyond that which can be directly observed, therebyfacilitating quick and effective decision-making by the coach tomaximize the probability of achieving success in the athletic activity.

As noted above, a variety of information may be communicated between anyof the elements of monitoring system 30, including, for example, sensormodule 102, personal computer 204, portable electronic device 206,network 200, and server 202. Such information may include, for example,activity metrics, device settings (including sensor module 102settings), software, and firmware.

Communication among the various elements of the present invention mayoccur after the athletic activity has been completed or in real-timeduring the athletic activity. In addition, the interaction between, forexample, sensor module 102 and personal computer 204 and the interactionbetween, for example, the personal computer 204 and the server 202 mayoccur at different times.

In the case of a plurality of monitored individuals 100 and/or monitoredobjects, in some embodiments sensor devices (e.g., sensor module(s) 102)associated with each monitored individual 100 and/or object may eachtransmit data to a different associated remote device (e.g., personalcomputer 204 and/or portable electronic device 206). In someembodiments, multiple sensor devices (e.g., sensor module(s) 102)associated with monitored individual(s) 100 and/or objects may transmitdata to the same associated remote device. In some embodiments, multiplesensor devices (e.g., sensor module(s) 102) associated with monitoredindividual(s) 100 and/or objects may transmit data to an intermediatedevice (e.g., a computer acting as a “base station” to receive datalocally and transmit such data to one or more external devices, with orwithout processing such data, for example, as described herein) forre-transmission to remote devices (e.g., via network 200 and/or server202). Such data transmission as described can occur in substantiallyreal time (e.g., during an athletic activity, for real-time analysis),or can occur after completion of the athletic activity (e.g., forpost-game analysis). Data transmitted can be in any form ranging fromraw data sensed by sensors (e.g., acceleration sensor 116 and magneticfield sensor 118 of sensor module 102) or data resulting from anyprocessing operation (e.g., such identifying, determining, calculating,or storing as described herein). Any processing of the data as describedherein can take place at any device that receives data transmission asdescribed.

Individuals participating in an athletic activity and trainers (e.g., acoach, physician, or other authorized individual) may work togetherduring a session of athletic activity for a variety of reasons. Forexample, it may be desired that the trainer monitors the performance ofthe individuals and makes recommendations or otherwise influences theirperformance in order to maximize the individuals' fitness level.Alternatively or additionally, it may be desired that the trainermonitors and influences the individuals to help maximize theeffectiveness of the individuals in the athletic activity. Further, itmay be desired that the trainer monitors and influences the individualsto help maximize the probability of success in the athletic activity(where success may be, for example, defeating an opposing team in agame, such as, for example, soccer, or achieving/maintaining a desiredlevel of fitness for one or more individuals participating in theathletic activity). A session of athletic activity may include, forexample, a training session (e.g., a field session, a gym session, atrack session) or a competitive session (e.g., a soccer match or abasketball game)

In some exemplary embodiments, the trainer may monitor and influence theindividuals in order to track and maintain the individuals' health andsafety. In such an embodiment, it may be beneficial for the trainer tobe provided with information relating to health and safety, for example,injuries, illnesses, and dangerous conditions.

The trainer must consider these and other goals, monitor theindividuals, and make decisions to influence the performance of theindividuals both individually and as a group. In doing so, the trainerdepends on information about the individuals and their performance whileparticipating in a session of athletic activity. The trainer may benefitfrom receipt of information in addition to that which is directlyobservable by the trainer. A group monitoring system according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention can provide the trainerwith easy-to-understand information about individuals participating inthe athletic activity, beyond that which can be directly observed,thereby facilitating quick and effective decision-making by the trainerto maximize the probability of achieving success in the athleticactivity. Detailed player profiles with performance metrics over timecan be generated and maintained. By using information provided by thegroup monitoring system, trainers can view trends over time, which canhelp identify, for example, unfit athletes, athletes who areover-training, and athletes having relatively high risk for injury.Special training programs can be planned to address these conditionsenabling peak performance (e.g., at game time).

Conventionally, a trainer would plan a session of athletic activityhoping to deliver a certain workload (e.g., represented by target valuesfor one or more metrics) to a team or to particular individuals orsubsets thereof, but would not have a reliable way to measure if theintended workload was actually delivered. With a group monitoring systemaccording to embodiments of the present invention, a trainer now candetermine whether the intended workload was actually delivered (e.g., bydirect measurement of one or more metrics indicating or providing thebasis for a determination of total workload). This enables the trainerto more precisely plan and adapt sessions of athletic activity by basingsuch planning and adapting on measured values representing individual orteam performance. Such a group monitoring system may provide feedbackthat the trainer can act on to revise training as needed. In anexemplary embodiment, the group monitoring system can provide alerts tothe trainer to flag critical or important conditions that the trainerwould not otherwise be able to observe directly, such as, for example,fatigue of an individual or heart rate of an individual being above athreshold value.

In an exemplary embodiment, group monitoring system 700, depicted in,for example, FIG. 17, includes individual monitors 712 (see FIG. 18A),an object monitor 750, a base station 705, and at least one groupmonitoring device 760 (see FIG. 19). Individual monitor 712 may becoupled to an individual 710, as shown in FIG. 18A. Object monitor 750may be coupled to a sports object 740, as shown in FIG. 18B. Individual710 may be, for example, a participant in an athletic activity (e.g., aplayer; a referee; or a support person such as a ball boy, golf caddy,or line man). Sports object 740 may be, for example a sports object, forexample, any type of sport ball, any type of sport “stick” (e.g., abaseball bat, hockey stick, golf club, table tennis paddle, or tennisracquet), a sport glove (e.g., a boxing glove), a bicycle, an oar, ashoe, a boot, a ski, a hat, a helmet, a band, a skateboard, a surfboard,or a pair of glasses or goggles) used by an individual (e.g., individual710) during an athletic activity. In certain embodiments, one or moreindividuals 710 and/or one or more sports objects 740 can be monitored.Individual monitor 712 and/or object monitor 750 may include or be incommunication with a variety of sensors 702, including, but not limitedto, an accelerometer, a pedometer, a heart rate monitor, a positionsensor, an impact sensor, a camera, a magnetometer, a gyroscope, amicrophone, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a respirationsensor, a posture sensor, a lactate sensor, and a wind sensor. Groupmonitoring system 700 can include any or all of these or other sensors,eliminating the need for separate systems to monitor differentcharacteristics. Further, by integrating and processing data streamsfrom multiple different sensors, group monitoring system 700 candetermine and provide metrics based on data representing differentmonitored characteristics. This eliminates the need to manually combinedata streams to determine metrics based on multiple data streams (e.g.,to determine high level training insights).

In an exemplary embodiment, individual monitor 712 may include a sensorgarment 704, a heart rate monitor 706, a position sensor 708, anacceleration sensor 710 or any other sensor (e.g., a magnetometer). Inan exemplary embodiment, object monitor 750 may include a positionsensor 708, an acceleration sensor 710 and a magnetometer. Positionsensor 708 may include, for example, a position sensor for use with asatellite-based positioning system (e.g., GPS (global positioningsystem)), a position sensor for use with a beacon system (e.g., positiondetermination using triangulation and/or time differences of signalsreceived by antennas at known positions about a field or activity area),or a position sensor for use with any other suitableposition-determining system. In certain embodiments, position sensor 708can be the same device as the magnetometer.

In some exemplary embodiments, group monitoring device 760 may be usedby a trainer 720, as shown in FIG. 19. In an exemplary embodiment, groupmonitoring system 700 and/or components thereof (e.g., individualmonitor 712, object monitor 750) may include or be used with elements ofanother monitoring system, such as, for example, those disclosed in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/467,944, filed May 18, 2009; U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/467,948, filed May 18, 2009; U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/077,494, filed Mar. 31, 2011; U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/077,520, filed Mar. 31, 2011; U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/077,510, filed Mar. 31, 2011; U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/446,937, filed Apr. 13, 2012; U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/446,982, filed Apr. 13, 2012; and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/446,986, filed Apr. 13, 2012, whose disclosuresare incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Generally, sensors 702 are mounted to individuals 710 in preparation forparticipation by individuals 710 in a session of athletic activity.Sensors 702 mounted to a particular individual 710 are coupled, eithervia wires or wirelessly, to individual monitor 712, also mounted on theparticular individual 710. Sensors 702 in communication with anindividual 710's individual monitor 712 may sense characteristics aboutindividual 710 during participation by individual 710 in the session ofathletic activity, and may transmit data indicative of thecharacteristics to individual monitor 712. Individual monitor 712 inturn may transmit the data to base station 705 during or after thesession of athletic activity.

Sensors 702 in communication with an object 740's object monitor 750 maysense characteristics about object 740, for example while object 740 isused (e.g., by individual 710) during the session of athletic activity,and may transmit data indicative of the characteristics to objectmonitor 750. Object monitor 750 in turn may transmit the data to basestation 705 during or after the session of athletic activity.

In some embodiments, a first individual monitor 712 may transmit dataindicative of characteristics about its monitored individual 710 to asecond monitor (e.g., an individual monitor 712 monitoring a differentindividual 710, or an object monitor 750 monitoring a sports object740). In some embodiments, a first object monitor 750 may transmit dataindicative of characteristics about its monitored object 740 to a secondmonitor (e.g., an individual monitor 712 monitoring an individual 710,or a second object monitor 750 monitoring a different sports object740). Such communication among monitors 712, 750 may be wirelessaccording to any suitable protocol. For example, such communication maybe based on RFID (radio frequency identification) signals, magneticsignals, WLAN (wireless local area network) signals, ISM (industrial,scientific, and medical) band signals, Bluetooth® (or Bluetooth® LowEnergy (BTLE)) signals, or cellular signals.

Such communication among monitors 712, 750 may facilitate determinationsand calculations based on data from more than one source. For example,if two monitored individuals 710 kick a sports object 740 (e.g., aball), object monitor 750 of sports object 740 can receive data fromeach of the individual monitors 712 of the individuals 710. Such datacan be compared with data from the object monitor 750 of sports object740 and can be used to determine (e.g., at sports object 740, basestation 705, or an accessing device) which of the two individuals kickedsports object 740 first. Also for example, if a monitored individual 710kicks a sports object 740 (e.g., a ball), individual monitor 712 ofindividual 710 can receive data from object monitor 750 of sports object740 indicating the force with or speed at which the sports object 740was kicked, or the resulting speed, direction of motion, or predictedlanding location of the sports object 740 due to the kick. Such data maybe sensed by a pressure sensor of the sports object 740, and transmittedwirelessly to the individual monitor 712 of the monitored individual710. Such data can be compared with data from the individual monitor 712and can be used to determine characteristics of the kick of individual710. In some embodiments, based on such data, group monitoring system700 may provide a recommendation as to how individual 710 may improvehis or her kick (e.g., to achieve greater distance, speed, height).

In some exemplary embodiments, some or all of transmissions of dataamong system components of group monitoring system 700 may occur in realtime. “Real time” as used herein may include delays inherent totransmission technology, delays designed to optimize resources, andother inherent or desirable delays that would be apparent to one ofskill in the art. In some exemplary embodiments, some or all of thesetransmissions may be delayed from real time, or may occur aftercompletion of the activity. Base station 705 receives the data anddetermines metrics from the data, where the metrics may berepresentations of the characteristics measured by sensors 702, or maybe representations of further characteristics derived from the datathrough the use of algorithms and other data manipulation techniques.Metrics may be based on data from individual monitors 712 only, fromobject monitors 750 only, or from both individual monitors 712 andobject monitors 750. Base station 705 in turn transmits the metricsduring the session of athletic activity to group monitoring device 760,which receives the metrics and displays a representation of the metrics.

Group monitoring device 760 may receive metrics associated with aplurality of individuals 710 and/or one or more objects 740, and maydisplay the received metrics in association with the individual 710and/or object 740 with which they are associated. In this way, trainer720 viewing group monitoring device 760 during the session of athleticactivity receives detailed information about multiple individuals 710and/or object(s) 740, and can act on that information as it isdetermined necessary or expedient, thereby efficiently monitoring andmanaging individuals 710 during the session of athletic activity.

Display of the metrics can represent real-time summaries of individuals710 or groups thereof, and can facilitate comparison of one or moreindividuals 710 or groups thereof with one or more other individuals 710or groups thereof, or comparison of one or more individuals 710 orgroups thereof from a first time with one or more individuals 710 orgroups thereof from a second time.

In some exemplary embodiments, individual monitors 712 and/or objectmonitors 750 calculate metrics based on the data (e.g., data generatedby sensors 702), and transfer these metrics to base station 705 alongwith or instead of the data. In some exemplary embodiments, base station705 transmits the data to group monitoring device 760, along with orinstead of the metrics. In some exemplary embodiments, group monitoringdevice 760 calculates metrics based on the data.

Elements of individual monitor 712 (or object monitor 750) mayinterconnect with one another using a variety of techniques, such as,for example, wires, printed circuit boards, conductive yarn, conductivefabric, printed conductive layers on fabric, a printed (wire) harness,wireless communications technology, serial ports, serial peripheralinterfaces, other connection techniques, or a combination thereof. Eachmonitor 712, 750 is portable with respect to base station 705. In someembodiments, each individual monitor 712 can be carried by an individual710 participating in an athletic activity. Each monitor 712, 750 mayitself include sensors 702, and/or may be in communication with sensors702 carried by individual 710 and/or sports object 740 and locatedremotely from monitor 712, 750. Each monitor 712, 750 can be paired withbase station 705 and associated with an individual 710 and/or sportsobject 740. Each monitor 712, 750 may include a unique identifier. Theunique identifier may be represented by, for example, a number imprintedon a viewable surface of individual monitor 712 and/or object monitor750 (or an article associated therewith, such as, for example, a garmentor sports object), or data communicated or displayed when a buttonassociated with individual monitor 712 and/or object monitor 750 ispressed or when a request signal is received from base station 705.

In an exemplary embodiment, individual monitor 712 is a pod-like deviceand includes a position module for determining data indicative of thelocation of individual monitor 712 (and thus the location of individual710 carrying individual monitor 712), a heart rate monitor module fordetermining data indicative of the heart rate of individual 710, athree-axis acceleration sensor module for determining data indicative ofthe acceleration of individual 710, a gyroscope module for determiningdata indicative of the orientation of individual 710 with respect to,for example, a playing field and/or base station 305, and a magnetometermodule for measuring local magnetic field data and calibrating bodymotion data determined by the gyroscope module and acceleration sensormodule. Such a pod-like device can be carried by individual 710, forexample, in a shirt, shoe, or other apparel or equipment worn byindividual 710. In some embodiments, individual monitor 712 may be anear-field communication (NFC) device (e.g., a radio-frequencyidentification (RFID) tag) or any active or passive communicationdevice.

Similarly, in an exemplary embodiment object monitor 750 is a devicethat includes a position module for determining data indicative of thelocation of object monitor 750 (and thus the location of sports object740 carrying object monitor 750), a heart rate monitor module fordetermining data indicative of the heart rate of an individual (e.g.,individual 710) interacting with sports object 740 (e.g., gripping orotherwise holding sports object 740 such that a heart rate sensor ofobject monitor 750 can sense a pulse of the individual), a three-axisacceleration sensor module for determining data indicative of theacceleration of sports object 740, a gyroscope module for determiningdata indicative of the orientation of sports object 740 with respect to,for example, a playing field and/or base station 705, and a magnetometermodule for measuring local magnetic field data and calibrating motiondata determined by the gyroscope module and acceleration sensor module.In some embodiments, object monitor 750 is a pod-like device, which maybe configured for attachment to a sports object 740 (e.g., coupled to aracquet or bat upon an external surface thereof). In some embodiments,object monitor 750 is a chip integrated within a sports object 740(e.g., coupled to a ball beneath the exterior surface thereof). In someembodiments, object monitor 750 may be a near-field communication (NFC)device (e.g., a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag) or any activeor passive communication device.

Additionally, the acceleration sensor module can be used in conjunctionwith the magnetometer module and gyroscope module in order to calibratemotion and position determinations. For example, information indicativeof impact, change in motion, gravity, and change in direction can beobtained using the acceleration sensor module. Angular movement can beobtained using the gyroscope module, and the absolute “North”orientation or local magnetic field data, such as magnetic fieldintensity and/or direction, can be obtained using the magnetometermodule. These sensor readings can be used to determine, for example, theposture of an individual 710, gravity, position and orientation ofindividual 710 and/or object 740 in space, and heading of individual 710and/or object 740.

Base station 705 may be a self-contained portable system, containing allhardware required or desired to perform the functions of base station705 described herein. In some exemplary embodiments, base station 705weighs no more than 25 kilograms. In some exemplary embodiments, basestation 705 is sized so as to fit easily into the trunk of a car or theoverhead storage area of a passenger aircraft. In some exemplaryembodiments, base station 705 includes a pair of wheels at one end, anda handle at the other end, to facilitate mobility of base station 705.In some exemplary embodiments, base station 705 is waterproof, and canwithstand impacts associated with regular use and transport. In someexemplary embodiments, base station 705 is contained within a hardshell-style case. In some exemplary embodiments, base station 705 iscontained within a soft duffel bag-style case.

In some exemplary embodiments base station 705 is configured to beportable. In some exemplary embodiments, base station 705 is configuredto be positioned at an activity site. In some exemplary embodiments basestation 705 is configured to be movable between activity sites such thatit can be positioned at various activity sites. In some exemplaryembodiments base station 705 is configured to be portable with respectto at least one of individual monitors 712, object monitors 750, andgroup monitoring device 760. In some exemplary embodiments base station705 is configured to be portable with respect to each of individualmonitors 712, object monitors 750, and group monitoring device 760.

In some exemplary embodiments, base station 705 itself includes sensors,such as, for example, a GPS sensor (or other position sensor), agyroscope, a magnetometer, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor,and/or a wind sensor. Such sensors can provide valuable data that can beused in algorithms to determine metrics associated with individuals 710and/or sports objects 740, as will be described below.

In some exemplary embodiments, base station 705 includes a referencesensor (e.g., a GPS reference sensor), which may be physically includedwithin base station 705 or independent of and located remote from basestation 705 at a known position with respect thereto. The referencesensor can be connected to base station 705 via wires or wirelessly. Thereference sensor can be used to detect a deviation signal and use it tocalculate a correction signal for received position signals (e.g., GPSdata). This correction signal can be sent to monitors 712, 750 (e.g.,via base station 705). This correction signal can be used to correctposition determinations of monitors 712, 750, thereby increasing theiraccuracy. Determining such a correction signal and then sending it tomonitors 712, 750 achieves efficient use of processing capacity, becausemonitors 712, 750 are not burdened with determining a correction signalthemselves, but simply receive and use a correction signal determined atbase station 705 or the reference sensor.

Base station 705 may transmit and receive data from monitors 712, 750via an antenna configured for one or more of RF communication, WLANcommunication, ISM communication, cellular (e.g., GSM broad band 2.5G or3G) communication, other suitable communication, or a combinationthereof. Communication between base station 705 and monitors 712, 750may be bi-directional or uni-directional. The antenna may be a high-gainantenna, and in some exemplary embodiments base station 705 includesmultiple (e.g., 2) such antennas. In some exemplary embodiments, basestation 705 includes an antenna configured to send and/or receive apositioning signal such as that of a satellite-based positioning system(e.g., GPS). Base station 705 can then determine metrics from thereceived data. Base station 705 can include a data reception module, adata processing module, a central synchronization (sync) module, a logicmodule, a web server module, and a base station database.

As described above, base station 705 receives data from monitors 712,750. The data reception module of base station 705 may be incommunication with each active monitor 712, 750. In some exemplaryembodiments the data reception module receives data from monitors 712,750 via the antenna in communication with monitors 712, 750 through theRF link described above. The data reception module writes the receiveddata to a data file, which may be, for example, a comma-separated valuesfile or a tab delimited file. The file may be, for example, a singlefile used to write the data to, or a rolling file (file roll) based on,for example, time, number of entries, or size. The data file may beupdated using any suitable interval and parameters. For example, 30monitors 712, 750 may be active and updating 5 data points at 2 Hz, inorder to update the data file in near real time.

The data reception module may perform a data integrity check on thereceived data. In some exemplary embodiments the data reception moduledecrypts the received data. In some exemplary embodiments the datareception module is agnostic to the received data, and does not decryptthe received data. In some exemplary embodiments the data receptionmodule buffers content as needed.

The data reception module may include a data read module that reads thedata from the data file and transmits it to data processing module. Thedata read module may run at any suitable interval, such as, for example,500 ms (milliseconds), to read the change in the data written to thedata file.

Prior to monitors 712, 750 being used during a session of athleticactivity, each monitor 712, 750 may be connected to base station 705(e.g., by docking in docking port, or wirelessly) and may be assigned anencryption key by the data processing module. Monitors 712, 750 can usethis encryption key to securely transmit data to the data receptionmodule. The data processing module receives data from the data receptionmodule, as described above, and de-crypts the data, if encrypted, byusing the unique encryption key assigned to a particular monitor 712,750. The data processing module transmits the decrypted data to the basestation database, for storage.

The base station database is preferably configured for short termstorage of data generated during sessions of athletic activity, whilelong term storage is accomplished by a web server system. The basestation database may include sufficient storage space for at least alldata expected to be generated in 1 session of the athletic activity. Insome exemplary embodiments, the base station database includessufficient storage space for at least all data expected to be generatedin 3 sessions of the athletic activity (e.g., greater than approximately2 gigabytes). In some exemplary embodiments, the base station databaseis configured for long term storage, and includes sufficient storagespace, for example, for at least all data expected to be generated in 10years of use monitoring athletic activities (e.g., greater thanapproximately 600 gigabytes).

In some exemplary embodiments, group monitoring device 760 includes adisplay 762 and an input 764, as shown, for example, in FIG. 20. In apreferred embodiment, group monitoring device 760 is a tabletcomputing-style device (such as a tablet personal computer or an iPad®,marketed by Apple Inc.®). Group monitoring device 760 may be, however,any other suitable device, such as, for example, a laptop computer, asmartphone, a personal computer, a mobile phone, an e-reader, a PDA(personal digital assistant), a smartphone, a wristwatch device, adisplay integrated into a garment (e.g., into a sleeve or arm band), orother similar device capable of receiving and displaying information andreceiving input. In some embodiments, group monitoring system 700includes a plurality of group monitoring devices 760, which may becarried by individuals 710 (e.g., during participation in a monitoredathletic activity). For simplicity and clarity of explanation, groupmonitoring device 760 is herein described primarily as used by trainer720. Group monitoring device may be used similarly, however, by anyperson, including individuals 710.

In some exemplary embodiments, during a session of athletic activity,trainer 720 may use group monitoring device 760 to receive real timeinformation about individuals 710 and/or sports objects 740. Thisinformation may enable trainer 720 to more easily accomplish a varietyof goals. In the case that the athletic activity is a fitness exercise,trainer 720 can leverage real time data received about the fatigue ofparticular individuals 710 or groups of individuals 710 in order to, forexample, inform data-driven real time decisions that optimize theperformance of individuals 710 and reduce the potential for injury. Forexample, trainer 720 may modify a current session of athletic activity(e.g., shorten, extend, pause, end, or change the schedule of activityfor the session) based on the information received from group monitoringdevice 760. Trainer 720 may modify the session for particularindividuals 710, or for groups of individuals 710. In the case that apresent session of athletic activity has been scheduled using a planmodule of monitoring device 760 (as described further herein), theplanned schedule can be changed in real time to correspond to decisionsof trainer 720. Similarly, in the case that the athletic activity is acompetition (e.g., a soccer game), trainer 720 can leverage real timedata received about the performance of particular individuals 710 and/orsports objects 740 or groups of individuals 710 and/or sports objects740 in order to, for example, inform data-driven real time decisionsthat optimize the chance for success in the competition. In an exemplaryembodiment, group monitoring device 760 can be used to monitor a singleindividual 710 and/or sports object 740 alone, as well as a group ofindividuals 710 and/or sports objects 740.

In some exemplary embodiments, group monitoring device 760 may be usedby broadcasters of an athletic activity in order to, for example,determine and relay to their audience information about individuals 710participating in the athletic activity and/or sports objects 740 beingused for the athletic activity.

Display 762 functions to display representations of individual monitors712, individuals 710, object monitors 750, and/or sports objects 740(including, for example, identification information, attributes,metrics, and alerts) during participation in a session of athleticactivity by individuals 710 and/or sports objects 740. Therepresentations can take many forms, including, for example, charts,dashboards, graphs, maps, colors, symbols, text, images, and icons.

Various representations capable of being displayed by display 762 aredescribed in detail herein. For simplicity and clarity of explanation,many of the representations are described with reference to individuals710, and may not refer to sports objects 740. Information relating toone or more sports objects 740 may be displayed in any of theserepresentations, or in formats similar to any of these representations,similarly as described for individuals 710. Information (includingmetrics) relating to such sports objects 740 may be displayed separatelyfrom information relating to individuals 710, or may be displayedtogether with information relating to individuals 710. Displayedinformation relating to sports objects 740 may be of the same or adifferent type (e.g., a different metric) than that displayed forindividuals 710, whether displayed separately or together.

Input 764 is an interface that allows a user, such as trainer 720, tomanipulate the representations displayed by display 762. In a preferredembodiment input 764 is a touch-screen input. Input 764 may be, however,any other suitable input, such as, for example, a keyboard, avoice-recognition audio input, or push-button inputs. Input 764 mayfurther include a combination of various types of inputs. Input 764 maybe manipulated by trainer 720 to cause display 762 to show desiredrepresentations. The representations can update in real time during theathletic activity through the communication of group monitoring device760 with base station 705, which is in turn in communication withindividual monitors 712 worn by individuals 710 participating in theathletic activity and/or object monitors 750 carried by sports objects740 used for the athletic activity, as described above.

A remote device (analysis device 770) is depicted in FIG. 21 andincludes a display 772 and an input 774. In an exemplary embodiment,analysis device 770 is a tablet computing-style device (such as a tabletpersonal computer or an iPad®, marketed by Apple Inc.®). Analysis device770 may be, however, any other suitable device, such as, for example, alaptop computer, a smartphone, or a personal computer. Analysis device770 can access data in web server database and display the informationto a user of analysis device 770 (e.g., trainer 720). In someembodiments, the information may be displayed using dedicated orgeneral-purpose software (e.g., a dedicated software interface, a webbrowser). Although analysis device 770 and group monitoring device 760are described separately herein, in some exemplary embodiments, groupmonitoring device 760 and analysis device 770 are the same device.

In some exemplary embodiments, analysis device 770 can be located at aremote location with respect to base station 705 or the relevantathletic activity, and can be used to access and display data andmetrics in real time. In such an embodiment, base station 705 cantransfer the data and metrics to a web server in real time, so that thedata and metrics can be accessed for display by analysis device 770, asdescribed above. Such an embodiment may be useful for a user to monitoran ongoing session of athletic activity from a remote location (e.g., atrainer 720 that could not be present at a match, or a team owner thatdesires to monitor a training session without physically attending thesession).

In some embodiments, individual monitor 712 and/or object monitor 750each includes a position module for determining data indicative of thelocation of individual monitor 712 and/or object monitor 750 (and thusthe location of individual 710 carrying individual monitor 712 and/orsports object 740 carrying object monitor 750). In some embodiments,display 762 of group monitoring device 760 depicts the location ofindividuals 710 and/or sports objects 740, based on the data indicativeof the location of individual monitor 712 and/or object monitor 750.

In some embodiments, such depiction of the location of individuals 710and/or sports objects 740 may be in the form of a graphicalrepresentation such as, for example, a map (e.g., a map of the playingfield on which individuals 710 and/or objects 740 are located, showingthe locations of individuals 710 and/or objects 740 in relation tofeatures of the playing field such as, for example, boundary lines andgoals). For example, individuals 710 and a sports object 740 on aplaying field can be shown, where individuals 710 are represented bytheir identifying numbers. Depiction of individuals 710 and/or sportsobject 740 with respect to features of the playing field can be helpfulto a viewer of display 762 (e.g., a referee or official charged withoverseeing the athletic activity) to monitor the activity (e.g., todetermine whether an individual 710 traveled outside a boundary line, orwhether a ball entered a goal zone).

In some embodiments, display 762 of group monitoring device 760 depictsthe present locations of individuals 710 and/or sports objects 740. Insome embodiments, display 762 of group monitoring device 760 depictspast locations of individuals 710 and/or sports objects 740 (e.g.,replays display of the locations). In some embodiments display 762 ofgroup monitoring device 760 depicts the past locations during theathletic activity. In some embodiments display 762 of group monitoringdevice 760 depicts the past locations after the athletic activity.

In some exemplary embodiments, display 762 of group monitoring device760 depicts locations of individuals 710 and/or sports objects 740simultaneously with orientations of individuals 710 and/or sportsobjects 740.

In some exemplary embodiments, display 762 of group monitoring device760 displays recommendations based on metrics. For example, display 762may display a recommendation based on location information of one ormore individuals 710 (e.g., based on location information showing aconcentration of individuals 710 in one area, display 762 may display arecommendation that individuals 710 spread out over the playing field).Such recommendations can be tailored as desired (e.g., to a particularsituation, type of game, to play against a particular opposing team orplayer, to a particular situation).

In some exemplary embodiments, display 762 of group monitoring device760 can display one or more alerts based on location information of oneor more individuals 710 and/or sports objects 740. An alert may betriggered based on a determination that location(s) of one or moreindividuals 710 and/or sports object 740 meet an alert condition. Forexample, an alert may be triggered in response to a location of anindividual being greater than a threshold distance from a targetposition, where the target position may be defined relative to, forexample, a playing field or feature thereof, another individual 710, ora sports object 740. Also for example, an alert may be triggered basedon a determination that there are no individuals 710 within a thresholddistance of a goal (e.g., the goal area is unguarded). Also for example,an alert may be triggered based on a determination an individual 710 hascrossed a boundary line (e.g., stepped out-of-bounds). Also for example,an alert may be triggered based on a determination that sports object740 is within a goal area (e.g., a goal has been scored). Also forexample, an alert may be triggered based on the character of movement ofan individual 710's location (e.g., rapid alternating between faster andslower movement of an individual 710 may trigger an alert indicatingthat individual 710 is limping, and may be injured; minimal movementcombined with orientation data showing individual 710 is prone or supinemay trigger an alert indicating that individual 710 has fallen, and maybe injured). Display 762 may display representations of such alerts asdescribed herein. In some embodiments, a representation of an individual710 to whom an active alert applies may be displayed in a differentcolor when the alert applies than when the alert doesn't apply. In someembodiments, such an alert may itself include specific coaching advicebased on the alert. For example, an alert indicating that an individual710 is greater than a threshold distance from a target position may beaccompanied by a recommendation for the individual 710 to move closer tothe target position. Also for example, an alert indicating that thereare no individuals 710 within a threshold distance of a particular area(i.e., there is a “gap” in field coverage) may be accompanied by arecommendation for one or more individuals 710 to move closer to theparticular area (e.g., to eliminate or reduce the size of the gap).

Also for example, an alert may be triggered based on locations ofmultiple individuals 710 and/or sports objects 740. For example, analert may be triggered where a first individual 710 is within athreshold distance from a sports object 740 (e.g., the first individualmay be handling the ball), and wherein a second individual 710 isgreater than a threshold distance from any opposing individual 710. Thealert may provide notification (e.g., to trainer 720, first individual710) that the second individual 710 is unguarded, which may be useful(e.g., to trainer 720, first individual 710) to prompt consideration ofwhether first individual 710 should pass the ball to second individual710. In some embodiments, such an alert may itself include arecommendation for a strategic play, or for a modification to a currentstrategy (e.g., a calculated “best play,” or a new target location forone or more individuals 710, given the known metrics, including locationinformation). For example, the alert may provide a recommendation thatthe ball be passed from the first individual 710 to the secondindividual 710. Such alerts can be defined and tailored to any desiredgame situation, in order to facilitate analysis and speeddecision-making during an athletic activity.

In some embodiments, display 762 of group monitoring device 760 depictsthe path of one or more individuals 710 or sports objects 740. The pathmay be a curve tracing past locations of the one or more individuals 710or sports objects 740 on a map of the playing field. The displayed pathmay be static (i.e., displaying the curve for a period of time with adefined beginning and end) or dynamic (e.g., displaying the curve for aperiod of time where either or both of the beginning and end isdependent on, for example, the current time). In depicting the path ofone or more individuals 710 or sports objects 740, display 762 may showthe position of the one or more individuals 710 or sports objects 740 asa function of time.

As shown, for example, in FIG. 22, group monitoring system 700 caninclude a combination of the components described above. Sensors 702attached to multiple individual monitors 712 and object monitors 750 canprovide data to base station 705. In certain embodiments, otherinformation can be provided to base station 705, for example, video orimages from camera system 780. Data generated by camera monitoringsystem 780 can be received by base station 705 and analyzed to determinepositions of individuals 710 and/or other objects/areas of interest(e.g., sports objects 740). Base station 705 can provide all of thisinformation to group monitoring device 760 to be displayed on display762.

In some exemplary embodiments, as depicted in, for example, FIGS. 23-27,display 762 includes a heat map 415, which may provide a visualindication of time spent by one or more individual 710 in areas of theplaying field. Such visual indication may include colored areas of arepresentation of the playing field that correspond to areas whereindividual 710 has spent more time, colored differently than coloredareas of the representation of the playing field that correspond toareas where individual 710 has spent less time. In some embodiments(see, e.g., FIG. 23), heat map 415 may represent a single individual710. In some embodiments (see, e.g., FIGS. 24-27), heat map 415 mayrepresent multiple individuals 710, where visual indications of timespent by different individuals 710 are represented by different colors,or where individuals 710 on one team are represented by the same colorwhile individuals 710 from an opposing team are represented by adifferent color. In some embodiments, heat map 415 may represent one ormore sports objects 740 similarly as described with respect toindividuals 710. In some embodiments, where individual 710 is wearing agarment having an illuminable area, the illuminable area may illuminatein a color corresponding to the color used to represent individual 710on display 762 (e.g., on heat map 415).

Alternatively or additionally, heat map 415 may provide a visualindication of, for example, areas of the playing field where player 710performed a certain type of activity (e.g., running, jumping), areas ofthe playing field where player 710 had a metric value above or below athreshold value, or areas of the playing field where player 710 hadpossession of or contact with a sports object (e.g., a ball). In someembodiments, heat map 415 may provide a visual indication of, forexample, optimum positioning of one or more players 710 the playingfield.

In some embodiments, display 762 of group monitoring device 760 depictsthe location of an individual 710 or sports object 740 with respect tosome other feature (which may be, for example, another individual 710 orsports object 740, or a point on the playing field). Such depiction cantake the form of a distance measurement between (i.e., magnitude ofseparation of) the individual 710 or sports object 740 and the otherfeature, which may be represented, for example, as a history of theseparation (e.g., a graph showing time v. separation) or as an integralmap (e.g., a histogram) of the separation over a set period.

The various depictions of locations of individuals 710 and/or sportsobjects 740 can help a viewer (e.g., trainer 720, individual 710) toanalyze plays made during a session of athletic activity. For example,the depictions may be useful in facilitating tactical training orstrategy development, by facilitating design and monitoring ofpre-planned plays, or the analysis of successful or failed plays to seekareas for improvement. Also for example, the depictions may be useful todetermine the extent of separation between two individuals 710 with thesame role on a team (e.g., two fullbacks), to optimize their coverage ofthe playing field (e.g., to ensure that the two fullbacks maintained atleast a threshold separation during a game in order to ensure that areasof the field were not left undefended). Also for example, the depictionsmay be useful to analyze the effect of positioning of individuals 710 ongame events, including the outcome of the game (e.g., the distance andfrequency with which a fullback strayed from the corner of the penaltybox, or the distances between the two fullbacks and the goalkeeper canbe analyzed at key points, like when a goal against has been scored, tohelp identify and improve sub-optimal positioning and to help preventfuture goals against from being scored). Also for example, thedepictions may be useful to determine possession or change thereof(e.g., a successful pass) of a sports object 740 (e.g., ball) by anindividual 710 (e.g., by identifying separation between the individual710 and sports object 740 below a threshold distance for a thresholdperiod of time).

In some embodiments, image data generated by a camera monitoring systemcan be overlaid or identified with data and metrics described herein. Insuch an embodiment the image data may be displayed synchronously withthe data and metrics by or in conjunction with a display device (e.g.,group monitoring device 760 or analysis device 770). This can helpcorrelate data and metrics with actual images of individuals 710 and/orsports objects 740.

In some embodiments, as described above, one or more metrics may bebased on a determination of position of individual 710 and/or sportsobject 740 with respect to a playing field or feature thereof. Forexample, in some embodiments, location signals (e.g., signals generatedby position modules) are correlated with positions on playing field 430using previously mapped magnetic field data, where the magnetic fielddata of the playing field are known by group monitoring system 700. Alsofor example, in some embodiments location signals are correlated withpositions on playing field using relative location data (e.g., datarepresenting a relative location with respect to a reference, which maybe, for example, base station 705 or some other stationary beaconconnected thereto), where the relative position of the playing field isknown by group monitoring system 700. In some embodiments, the positionof the playing field becomes known to group monitoring system by beingdefined by a user.

In some embodiments, a portable system component (e.g., an individualmonitor 712, an object monitor 750, or group monitoring device 760) canbe used to define the playing field (which may be, for example, a soccerfield, a racing track, or other area). For example, in a fielddefinition mode, display 762 of group monitoring device 760 or otheradministrative device may display an instruction to locate a positionsensor at a first location on a playing field. For example, as shown inFIG. 28, display 762 may instruct a user to locate a position sensor,which could be a magnetic field sensor, at a mid-line location of asoccer field. Display 762 may display a graphical representation of theplaying field 430, with an instruction marker 432 showing the user thelocation at which to position the sensor. The user may position thegroup monitoring device 760 at the location on the playing fieldcorresponding to the displayed location, and may optionally provideinput through input 764 of group monitoring device 760 to indicate thatthe group monitoring device 760 is positioned at the instructedlocation. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, the userof group monitoring device 760 may direct an associated other portabledevice (e.g., an individual monitor 712 or object monitor 750 carried byanother person) communicatively connected to the group monitoring deviceto the location on the playing field corresponding to the displayedlocation, and may optionally provide input through input 764 of groupmonitoring device 760 to indicate that the associated other portabledevice is positioned at the instructed location. Group monitoring device760 may then receive position data identifying the location of theposition sensor, and may define this position data as corresponding tothe instructed location. As noted, such position data may be determinedbased on a comparison of previously mapped magnetic field data withmeasured magnetic field data or data representing relative location withrespect to a reference.

Display 762 of group monitoring device 760 may then display aninstruction to locate the position sensor, which could be a magneticfield sensor, at additional locations on the playing field 430, whichcan be defined similarly as described for the first. For example, asshown in FIG. 29, display 762 may depict a confirmation marker 434showing that the first point has been defined, and may show aninstruction marker 432 showing the user a second location to be defined(e.g., a first corner of a soccer field). Display 762 of groupmonitoring device 760 may continue to show additional instructions todefine additional locations on the playing field 430 (see, e.g., FIG.30, showing four confirmation markers 434 indicating four definedpositions, and one instruction marker 432 indicating a final position tobe defined). The positions of the various defined locations may togetherdefine the playing field.

Group monitoring system 700 may be applied as described to define anyplaying field or other area, whether regular or irregular in shape. Forexample, group monitoring system 700 can be used to define a soccerfield, tennis court, running track, football field, basketball court,baseball field, golf course, ski slope, or mountain bike track. Thenumber of positions needed to fully define a playing field 430 may varyand may depend on the geometry of the playing field to be defined. Forexample, a typical soccer field (or other symmetrical rectangular-shapedfield) can be considered fully defined with a minimum of three positionsdefined (e.g., three corners where the fourth corner can be determinedbased on the location of the defined three corners). The minimumpositions needed to fully define a playing field 430 may increase withincreasing geometric complexity of the field shape as well as the extentand geometric complexity of field features to be defined. In some cases,defining some field features may be optional, or may be determined bygroup monitoring system based on known relationships with definedpositions.

For example, defining a baseball field or golf course may involvedefining a greater number of positions than does defining a soccer fieldor tennis court. For example, when defining a baseball field, it may bedesired to define its field of play (which is often irregular and canvary from field to field), its foul lines, its base positions, itswarning track, and its boundary between infield and outfield. Whendefining a soccer field or tennis court, simply defining three cornersof the field or court may be sufficient for group monitoring system todetermine remaining field features. Group monitoring system 700 mayinstruct definition of the minimum positions needed, or of more than theminimum positions needed (including optional positions). Defining morethan the minimum number of positions needed may increase the accuracy ofthe field definition. Further, group monitoring system 700 may instructdefinition of the same position once, or more than once. Defining thesame position more than once may increase the accuracy of the definitionof that position, thereby increasing the accuracy of the fielddefinition.

Once defined or otherwise obtained, a playing field may be saved in astorage medium of any system component (e.g., group monitoring device760, base station 305, web server system). Attributes of the definedfield may be saved in association therewith. For example, a field savescreen is depicted on display 762 of group monitoring device 760 in FIG.31. The field save screen includes fields for a user to input a fieldname, the field dimensions, the field location, the field playingsurface, and any desired notes about the field. In some embodiments,certain field attributes may be determined by group monitoring system700 (e.g., via a system component such as, for example, group monitoringdevice 760). For example, once a field is defined, group monitoringsystem 700 may calculate its dimensions or location (e.g., usingmagnetic field data).

As described above, group monitoring system 700 is portable, so it canbe transported between and used at different areas during differentsessions of athletic activity. The ability of group monitoring system700 to define a new playing field and monitor activity thereonfacilitates this portability. For example, the same group monitoringsystem 700 can be used to monitor training sessions at a team's trainingfacility, at the team's home playing field, and at the playing fields ofopposing teams visited by the team on the road. Each different field canbe defined as described above. This facilitates use of group monitoringsystem 700 across different playing fields, and gives trainers 720 theability to keep a consistent, repeatable set of measurements even whensessions of athletic activity occur at different locations (e.g., overthe course of a season). Many conventional monitoring technologiesrequire fixed installations, which prevents trainers from collectingdata or requires them to use different technologies during a session ofathletic activity away from their installation (e.g., when they aretraveling).

In some embodiments, once group monitoring system 700 receives signalsfrom individual monitors 712 or object monitors 750 monitoringindividuals 710 or sports objects 740 in motion on the defined playingfield, group monitoring system 700 may determine the type of playingsurface of the defined field, based on the character of motion signalsreceived from the individual monitors 712 or object monitors 750. Forexample, an object monitor 750 monitoring a sports object 740 travelingtoward the ground at a given speed may sense different impactcharacteristics for the sports object 740 upon its striking the grounddepending on the type of field, and may determine the type of fieldbased on these characteristics. For example, a duration of impact may beshorter and bounce height may be higher for a hard-surfaced playingfield (e.g., clay, hardwood, or asphalt) than for a soft-surfacedplaying field (e.g., grass, sand). Also for example, an individualmonitor 712 monitoring an individual 710 running on the ground may sensedifferent impact characteristics for the footfalls of the individual 710depending on the type of field, and may determine the type of fieldbased on these characteristics.

In some embodiments, instead of or in addition to defining a field basedon a plurality of positions, a playing field can be defined by linesthat correspond to a path moved by a portable system component alongboundaries of the playing field. The definition of such lines can beeffected similarly as described above with respect to the definition ofpositions relative to the playing field. A line-based definitiontechnique may be beneficial, for example, in defining fields havingcomplex or non-standard shapes.

Saved fields may be stored and re-used, and may be shared or sold (e.g.,via a website or social networking service, as described elsewhereherein). In some embodiments, group monitoring system 700 can downloaddata representing a pre-defined field (e.g., via a system component,such as, for example, group monitoring device 760). Data defining suchpre-defined fields may be available for download from, for example, adatabase, or directly from another user or website. Such pre-definedfields may have been defined previously by, for example, a user of thesame or a different group monitoring system 700, or of any othersuitable system (e.g., a position-recording or surveying system). Insome embodiments, group monitoring system 700 can provide an interfaceto search for data representing a particular pre-defined field (e.g.,via group monitoring device 760), or may suggest download of datarepresenting particular pre-defined fields based on the position of oneor more system components. For example, if base station 705 isdetermined to have coordinates proximate to those of Playing Field A,where data representing Playing Field A is pre-defined and available fordownload by group monitoring system 700, group monitoring system 700 maysuggest such download (e.g., via an interface of, for example, groupmonitoring device 760), thereby eliminating the need to re-definePlaying Field A before holding a session of athletic activity thereon.

For example, group monitoring system 700 may monitor data streamsrepresenting heart rate, power, speed, distance, acceleration, andposition on a playing field. By combining these data streams and basingcalculations on more than just a single data stream, group monitoringsystem can determine and output representations of new insights such as,for example, intensity and efficiency of an individual 710 or groupthereof. Display 762 of group monitoring device 760 can display suchrepresentations in real time, thus enabling trainers to act on theseinsights during a training session to ensure that they are meeting theirtraining goals.

Also for example, speed is typically used as a measure of intensity.Speed is an important part of many athletic activities. By monitoring anindividual's speed a trainer can see if the individual is training at atarget level (e.g., a level considered to correspond to success in agame). When a trainer plans a speed training session he or she cancustomize a live dashboard (e.g., displayed on display 762) to viewspeed-related data including peak speed, average speed, and number ofhigh intensity sprints. The ability to manage speed training carefullycan help prevent overtraining and can reduce the risk of injury.

Also for example, distance covered has long been a reference fortraining volume. The distance an individual covers (e.g., runs) during asession of athletic activity (e.g., a game or scrimmage) can vary. Areal time measure of distance covered can allow a trainer to setindividual or team targets for distance and ensure that all individualshave reached the target. At the end of a session of athletic activitythe trainer can refer to the live dashboard to check distance covered.Individuals that fell short of the target may be instructed to continueto run.

Also for example, acceleration (including deceleration) can be asignificant measure of performance. Acceleration can be important insports where rapid change of direction is required. Understanding therate and frequency of acceleration can influence a determination ofoverall training load.

Also for example, knowledge of position on the field may allow a trainerto see where the monitored individuals are or have been on the field.This can promote insights into tactical movements of the players. Asdescribed above, such positioning can be shown on a map, for instance aheat map, where positions are determined using a comparison ofpreviously mapped magnetic field data with measured magnetic field data.

The principles, components and systems described above can be used todetermine performance information for an object located within an area,for example, the position of a player or sport ball located within anarea designated to host athletic activities. In certain embodiments,local magnetic field data can be measured and compared with previouslymeasured and recorded magnetic field information for the area todetermine the position of the object within the area.

For instance, FIG. 32 illustrates a method for determining performanceinformation for an object located within an area, according to anembodiment. In certain embodiments, the area can be an indoor area, forexample, an area designated to host athletic activities. In step 910,magnetic field information for the area can be obtained. In certainembodiments, the magnetic field information for the area can include theintensity and/or direction of the magnetic field.

In certain embodiments, magnetic field information can be collected tocreate a magnetic field data map. Magnetic field data can be measured ata plurality of locations within the area. In certain embodiments, themagnetic field information for the area can be recorded during a mappingsession. The mapping session can be performed manually, for example, bya person walking within the area and taking magnetic field datameasurements with a hand-held device at certain locations within thearea. The mapping session can also be performed automatically, forexample, by a robot designed to move within the area and record magneticfield data at predetermined time and/or distance intervals. In certainembodiments, magnetic field map data can be acquired by moving sensormodule 102, which can include magnetic field sensor 118, throughdiscrete positions within the area. For example, sensor module 102 canbe passed through positions along a playing field in a grid-like patternand magnetic field data can be recorded, for example, every one meter.Any other distance or measurement increment, for example, every halfmeter or every 10 cm, can also be used. Known points, for example,boundary lines and goals, can be noted as the magnetic field informationis recorded. In certain embodiments, the magnetic field information canbe stored, for example, in the memory of a computing device or in adatabase. The magnetic field information can be accessed at a later timeto be compared with measured magnetic field data of an object within thearea.

In certain embodiments, mapping of the magnetic field information can beenhanced by recording the mapping session with a video camera. Forexample, by using an overhead camera and intermittently flashing astrobe light located at sensor module 102, the video data can becompared to the magnetic field data recorded by sensor module 102 todefine a virtual view of the area.

With continued reference to FIG. 32, at step 912, magnetic field datacan be measured at a position of an object within the area. As describedabove, the object can be, for example, an individual 100 or piece ofathletic equipment 108 (e.g., a ball), and the magnetic field data canbe measured and recorded by, for example, sensor module 102, which caninclude magnetic field sensor 118 (e.g. a magnetometer). In certainembodiments, sensor module 102 can be coupled to the object. Magneticfield intensity data and/or magnetic field direction data can bemeasured and recorded by sensor module 102.

At step 914, performance information for the object can be determinedbased on the magnetic field information for the area and the measuredmagnetic field data. For example, a position of the object within thearea can be determined by comparing measured magnetic field data to themagnetic field information for the area and determining a matchinglocation.

In certain embodiments, as shown, for example, in step 924 of FIG. 33,measured magnetic field data can be filtered to improve the accuracy ofdetermining the performance information for the object. FIG. 33illustrates a method for determining performance information for anobject located within an athletic field area by obtaining magnetic fieldmap data for an athletic field area (step 920) and measuring magneticfield data for an object located within the athletic field areas (step922). The measured magnetic field data can be filtered (step 924) todetermine performance information for the object based on the magneticfield map data and the filtered measured magnetic field data (step 926).

With reference to FIG. 34, in certain embodiments, performanceinformation for the object, such as the position of the object, can bedetermined through an iterative process. After obtaining magnetic fieldinformation for the area (step 930), first magnetic field data for theobject can be measured at a first position (step 931). This firstmagnetic field data can be compared to the magnetic field informationrecorded for the area during the mapping session (step 932). Thiscomparison may result in determining several possible locations of theobject within the area (step 933). Thus, a second measurement ofmagnetic field data for the object can be taken at a second position(step 934), and this data can also be compared with the magnetic fieldinformation for the area (step 935).

As shown in step 936 of FIG. 34, the measured magnetic field data canthen be filtered by applying constraints (e.g., by using a computeralgorithm) to reduce the data being considered in order to determine theposition of the object. The filter can include constraints such asphysical space constraints, for example, field dimensions. The filtercan also include human movement constraints, for example, motiondynamics extremes. Similar constraints can be applied for motiondynamics extremes of a piece of athletic equipment (e.g., a ball). Theseconstraints can be applied in order to eliminate unlikely positions ofthe object. For instance, if two sets of magnetic field data are taken afraction of a second apart, it would be illogical to include a secondposition point that is 50 meters away, when a human could not possiblycover that distance in the given time. Further iterations of magneticfield data measurements and filtering can be performed as necessary tofurther reduce the possible positions of the object within the areauntil the position of the object is determined with near certainty.Throughout the iterative process, probability values can be assigned toeach of the potential locations of the object based on a degree to whicheach potential location matches the constraints at each iterative step.Locations with a low probability of matching can be eliminated at eachiteration, reducing the number of potential locations of the object.

Once the position of the object is determined using the steps above, itbecomes easier to predict and determine the position of the objectbecause movement of the object must fall within physical space andobject movement constraints. The number of possible locations of theobject is, therefore, smaller than when first determining the positionof the object within the area. In certain embodiments, in order tofurther improve the accuracy of determining the position of the object,additional sensor data can be utilized in conjunction with the magneticfield data measurements. For example, data from an accelerometer,gyroscope, infrared (IR) device, imaging device (e.g., a camera) or anyother suitable sensor can be utilized to help approximate the directionin which the object is moving. The possible position of the object isthus narrowed by a directional constraint, therefore further increasingthe accuracy of determining the position of the object within the area.

Similar to the method above, FIG. 35 illustrates a method of determiningperformance information for an object at certain times. At steps 940 and942, first magnetic field data can be measured at a first time todetermine a first position of the object at the first time. At steps 944and 946, second magnetic field data can be measured at a second time todetermine a second position of the object at the second time. Once thefirst and second positions are determined, in step 948 performance data(e.g., distance traveled and speed) can be determined.

As shown in FIG. 36, the methods described above can be used in the teamsports context. At step 950, magnetic field data for a first object, forexample a player, can be obtained (e.g., using sensor module 102) as theplayer moves within a field of play. At step 952, magnetic field datafor a second object, for example a teammate, competitor or a sport ball,can be obtained as the second object moves within the area. In certainembodiments, multiple objects can be monitored as they move about thearea. At step 954, the positions of both the first and second objectscan be tracked within the area based on the measured magnetic fielddata. In certain embodiments, the first and second objects can betracked in substantially real-time as they move about the area. In otherembodiments, the first and second objects can be tracked at a later timeafter they finish moving about the area, for example, after an elapsedtime period for a team sport event. The position information can beanalyzed and displayed using the systems and methods described above.For example, a “heat map” showing the amount of time a player spent atcertain locations on the field can be displayed on a monitoring device.

FIG. 37 illustrates a method for mapping a magnetic field of an athleticfield area. Athletic field areas can be located both outdoors andindoors. Examples of athletic field areas can include, but are notlimited to, football fields, soccer fields, baseball fields, track andfield areas, basketball courts, tennis courts, swimming pools and roads(such as for running or cycling events). Non-traditional athletic fieldareas, for example, the inside of a building, including staircases, suchas for an indoor running event, are also contemplated within the broadscope of athletic field areas. At step 960, magnetic field informationcan be gathered by measuring magnetic field data at a plurality oflocations within the athletic field during a mapping session. In certainembodiments, the measurement locations can be equally spaced apart fromeach other, such as in a grid pattern. In certain embodiments,measurement locations within the area can be associated with playingfield structures, such as boundaries and goals. In certain embodiments,a mapping session can be recorded using a video camera to generate videodata for the athletic field that can be correlated to the magnetic fielddata. At step 962, a map of the measured magnetic field data for theathletic field area can be generated (e.g., by a computing device) basedon the measured magnetic field data. As described above, the magneticfield map can be subsequently compared to measured magnetic field datafor an object located within the area in order to determine the positionof the object within the area. In certain embodiments, the measuredmagnetic field data can be recorded and used to update the magneticfield map.

As shown, for example, in FIG. 38, in certain embodiments, performanceinformation, such as speed and distance traveled, can be determined foran object located within an area. Similar to the methods above, magneticfield information for the area can be obtained, for example, in amapping session (step 970). In certain situations (e.g., a smallbasketball gymnasium), magnetic field information may be sufficientlysimilar such that the area need not be mapped, but rather associatedwith a similar area that has previously been mapped. Statisticalanalysis of the variability of the magnetic field information for thearea can then be performed (step 972). For example, variations inmagnetic field intensity and/or direction over a given distance betweenadjacent points can be determined. In certain embodiments, a statisticaldistribution of the variability of magnetic field intensities and/ordirection can be determined for the area. The variability of themagnetic field data can then be measured as an object moves within thearea (step 974) in order to determine performance information for theobject based on the variability of the magnetic field data (step 976).

FIGS. 39-42 illustrate examples of data and graphical representationsthat can be created and used for the methods explained above. FIG. 39illustrates an example of a magnetic field intensity map. In certainembodiments, each pixel can correspond to a discrete magnetic fieldintensity measurement taken at specific coordinates within the areabeing mapped (e.g., a basketball court). The variations in magneticfield intensity can be displayed, for example, by color or shading. Forexample, white areas can indicate minimum magnetic field intensity andblack areas can indicate maximum magnetic field intensity, with variousshades of gray indicating magnetic field intensities between the minimumand maximum magnetic field intensities.

The solid lines in FIG. 39 can indicate sample unit distance movements(e.g., 1 meter) within the area. While moving along one of these unitdistances, a sensor can record the fluctuations in the magnetic fieldintensity, which can be characterized by local maxima (peaks), asillustrated by the graphical representation in FIG. 40. Multiple samplescan be recorded in order to determine an average distribution ofmagnetic field intensity (and/or fluctuations in magnetic fieldintensity) for the area, as illustrated by the graphical representationin FIG. 41. A comparison to the average distribution can then be used todetermine the movement of an object over an unknown distance within thearea. As the object moves within the area, a sensor can record themagnetic field intensity (and/or fluctuations in magnetic fieldintensity) and determine a distribution, as illustrated, for example, bythe graphical representation in FIG. 42. For the example shown in FIG.42, the count values for the occurrences of various magnetic fieldintensity measurements that make up the distribution are approximatelyhalf of the count values for the average distribution shown in FIG. 41.Therefore, it can be determined that the object moved approximately halfof the unit distance (i.e., 0.5 meters). When combined with timinginformation, the speed at which the object moves within the area canalso be determined.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments of the presentinvention described with reference to the figures will so fully revealthe general nature of the invention that others can, by applyingknowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt forvarious applications such specific embodiments, without undueexperimentation, without departing from the general concept of thepresent invention.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, they have been presented by way of example only, and notlimitation. It should be apparent that adaptations and modifications areintended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of thedisclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presentedherein. It therefore will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatvarious changes in form and detail can be made to the embodimentsdisclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention. The elements of the embodiments presented above arenot necessarily mutually exclusive, but may be interchanged to meetvarious needs as would be appreciated by one of skill in the art.

It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology used hereinis for the purpose of description and not of limitation. The breadth andscope of the present invention should not be limited by any of theabove-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only inaccordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for determining performance informationof an object located within an athletic field area, the methodcomprising, in order: obtaining magnetic field map data for the athleticfield area; measuring magnetic field data when the object is located ata position within the athletic field area; and determining performanceinformation of the object within the athletic field area based on themagnetic field map data for the athletic field area and the magneticfield data.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field datacomprises one of magnetic field intensity data and magnetic fielddirection data.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the magnetic fielddata comprises both magnetic field intensity data and magnetic fielddirection data.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field mapdata for the athletic field area comprises magnetic field informationdefining a plurality of locations on the athletic field forming agrid-like pattern.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic fieldmap data for the athletic field area comprises magnetic fieldinformation associated with a boundary of the field of play of theathletic field.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining magneticfield map data for the athletic field area comprises accessing apreviously determined magnetic field map data for the athletic fieldarea.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field data ismeasured using a magnetometer coupled to the object.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the magnetic field data comprises first magnetic fielddata and the position is a first position, further comprising: measuringsecond magnetic field data when the object is located at a secondposition within the athletic field area, wherein determining theperformance information of the object within the athletic field area isfurther based on the second magnetic field data.
 9. The method of claim1, wherein the object is a piece of athletic equipment.
 10. A method fordetermining performance information of an object located within anathletic field area, the method comprising, in order: obtaining magneticfield map data for the athletic field area; measuring magnetic fielddata when the object is located at a position within the athletic fieldarea at a time; and determining a location of the position of the objectat the time based on the magnetic field data.
 11. The method of claim10, wherein the magnetic field data comprises first magnetic field data,the position is a first position, and the time is a first time, furthercomprising: measuring second magnetic field data when the object islocated at a second position within the athletic field area at a secondtime after the first time; determining a location of the second positionof the object at the second time based on the second magnetic fielddata; and determining performance information for the object based onthe location of the first position of the object at the first time andthe location of the second position of the object at the second time.12. The method of claim 11, wherein the performance informationdetermined comprises the speed of the object as it travels between thefirst position and the second position.
 13. The method of claim 10,wherein the magnetic field map data for the athletic field areacomprises magnetic field information defining a plurality of locationson the athletic field forming a grid-like pattern.
 14. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the performance information comprises the distancetraveled by the object as it travels between the first position and thesecond position.
 15. A method for determining performance information ofan object located within an athletic field area, the method comprising,in order: obtaining magnetic field map data for the athletic field area;measuring magnetic field data when the object is located at a positionwithin the athletic field area; comparing the magnetic field data withthe magnetic field map data for the athletic field area; and determininga set of possible locations of the first position of the object withinthe athletic field area based on the comparison of the magnetic fielddata with the magnetic field map data for the athletic field area. 16.The method of claim 15, wherein the magnetic field data comprises firstmagnetic field data and the position is a first position, furthercomprising: measuring second magnetic field data when the object islocated at a second position within the area; comparing the secondmagnetic field data with the magnetic field map data for the athleticfield area; and applying constraints to the second magnetic field datato determine a possible location of the second position of the objectbased on the constraints and the comparisons of the first magnetic fielddata and the second magnetic field data with the magnetic field map datafor the athletic field area.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein themagnetic field map data for the athletic field area comprises magneticfield information defining a plurality of locations on the athleticfield forming a grid-like pattern.
 18. The method of claim 16, whereinapplying constraints to the second magnetic field data to determine apossible location of the second position of the object comprisesfactoring in physical space constraints of the athletic field area. 19.The method of claim 16, wherein applying constraints to the secondmagnetic field data to determine a possible location of the secondposition of the object comprises factoring in motion dynamicsconstraints of the object.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein themagnetic field data comprises one of magnetic field intensity data andmagnetic field direction data.